The Catholic Church has been rocked by the shock announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will resign at the end of February.
News agencies in Italy are reporting that the decision has been taken on health grounds.
The 85-year-old’s resignation has been confirmed by a Vatican spokesman according to Bloomberg and the ANSA news agency in Rome.
Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI following the death of Pope John Paul II in April 2005.
The German became the oldest man to be named pope since Clement XII, who was also 78 when he was elected in 1730.
Ratzinger was the first German pope since Victor II (1055-1057).
Read more: Could Cardinal Timothy Dolan from New York be the first American pope?
The Irish Times reports that his election was one of the fastest in many years: Pope Pius XII was elected in 1939 in three ballots on one day, while Pope John Paul I was elected in 1978 in four ballots in one day. Benedict XVI was elected after balloting of cardinals over two days.
The Pope was born in Bavaria on April 16th, 1927. He was a liberal theological adviser at the Second Vatican Council but became a conservative after the 1968 student movement prompted him to defend the faith against secularism.
The pontiff was archbishop of Munich before taking over the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1981 as the Roman Catholic Church's chief ideologue.
In that position, he has disciplined church dissidents and upheld church policy against attempts by liberals for reforms.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | Feb 12, 2013, 08:05 PM EST
The failed pope has resigned only to be replaced by another right wing nut!! Nothing changes for that mob in Rome.
Eschetic | Feb 11, 2013, 03:31 PM EST
There are probably no more physically draining jobs in the world than President of the United States and Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, and the strain of his dedication to his position clearly has shown on Benedict XVI for some years now, so one wants to be sympathetic, but at the same time - and while I disagree with so much of what this Pope has felt to be his "mission" - I can't help feel regret that he feels he must cheapen the position by not filling his full term. A life-time appointment is a LIFE-TIME appointment, and it is difficult to view abdicating early (even if feeling it will make a transition easier) as other than an abdication of duty. Historically, monarchs who have turned over the reigns of power before "called home" have done their people no favors.
WoundedKnee | Feb 11, 2013, 03:07 PM EST
kweenohearts--"the usual suspects' are seemingly slow...". Well I know for a fact that eiramach is atending Pastor Billy Bob's bible study session today. Ask the pastor about his two for one special on prayer cloths--these are scraps of cloth that he has prayed over and they have powerful magic properties. Ask eiriamch for more details...
KweenOHearts | Feb 11, 2013, 02:30 PM EST
Mmm... despite the effort put out by counihones to motivate the rabble with various 'Pope resigning people... come bash the Catholics Church!! come-ons, 'the usual suspects' are seemingly slow to jump at the chance of spreading their well nurtured store of vitriol... Must be they're not up yet! Probably still feeling the effects of the weekly elbow bender!
pilib04 | Feb 11, 2013, 12:26 PM EST
Slan Abhaile.
joan1954 | Feb 11, 2013, 12:09 PM EST
Really all this is talk about scandals.
PhlutiePhan | Feb 11, 2013, 11:13 AM EST
@olovely: As a conspiracy fanatic, I believe that this is just what it says that it is. JPII had discussed doing the same. The conspiracies came with John XXIII and Paul VI. Time for someone younger and enthusistic to "pick up the baton".
RobinForester | Feb 11, 2013, 11:12 AM EST
It appears the Vactican paper shredder operator was taken ill, and the word on the streets is: That VaticanGate will soon be with us, it seems Gods Banker was only human after all and was unable to say 'get behind me Satan and mean it'.
Collette2 | Feb 11, 2013, 11:09 AM EST
There will be many red hats grateful for the distraction.
RobinForester | Feb 11, 2013, 11:09 AM EST
It appears the Vactican paper shredder operator was taken ill, and the word on the streets is: That VaticanGate will soon be with us, it seems Gods Banker was only human after all and was unable to say 'get behind me Satan and mean it'.
ellenfromcork | Feb 11, 2013, 09:50 AM EST
Olovly, You are absolutely right. That was the first thing I thought when I heard the news.
olovely | Feb 11, 2013, 08:47 AM EST
Isn't this what they do just before the scandal breaks?