ot: 1 min of silence

[Intimidator]

I agree with Dogscoff and Frederick......
I really felt sorry for that man the last year. Really, really sick as he was, but still on 'the job' as catholic world leader...... IMPOSSIBLE.

[El_Phil]

Uhhh what is 'The Job'? Alot of world travel, speeches, the odd blessing to crowds and...

It doesn't seem the world's toughest job, especially as he'd had decades to establish his position on any important issue, so it wasn't as if he had to make difficult theological decisions about complex issues, he'd already made them.

However you've got to admire the man for keeping going with all that he's been through and to keep on going right to the end. Glad he's got some peace now.

[Intimidator]

El_Phil said:
Uhhh what is 'The Job'? Alot of world travel, speeches, the odd blessing to crowds and...

It doesn't seem the world's toughest job, especially as he'd had decades to establish his position on any important issue, so it wasn't as if he had to make difficult theological decisions about complex issues, he'd already made them.

However you've got to admire the man for keeping going with all that he's been through and to keep on going right to the end. Glad he's got some peace now.

Oh yes , I admire the man......but that's the whole point: After his life as an pope and his devotion, My opinion is that he deserved it to stand down and life/die in peace.
But I know (or I hope) it was his own decision.....

Inti,

[dogscoff]

Interesting link RD. However I still think it's likely (or at the very least, possible) that he clung on out of duty rather than preference. From that Wiki page RD supplied:

Abdication is considered dangerous by some Catholic thinkers, as it leaves open the possibility that those who dislike the new Pope will claim that there was a conspiracy to oust the old one and that the new Pope might therefore be an Antipope

The solution should be to set an arbitrary retirement limit: All popes must retire at age X, or when certain medical conditions apply. Then there would be no question of them having been 'ousted'.

[Caduceus]

dogscoff said:
The solution should be to set an arbitrary retirement limit: All popes must retire at age X, or when certain medical conditions apply. Then there would be no question of them having been 'ousted'.

Good luck getting *that* through the College of Cardinals.

Heh.

We'll see how long it takes to see white smoke...

[dogscoff]

We'll see how long it takes to see white smoke...

I read a few years ago an article somewhere about the most likely candidates for his successor. I seem to recall that at least half of them were black.

Imho the catholic church has done more to increase bigotry over the years than to counter it, but I think the election of a black pope would send a poweful message that you don't have to be a white guy to be an influential figure in the western world. (Although it probably helps )

Big question is, how long before we get a *female* pope?

[El_Phil]

Well according to the bookies the favourite is an Italian pope (they do have ~20% of the college of cardinals) Cardinal Tettamanzi apparently the 3/1 favourite. Cardinal Arinze from Nigeria is next out at 7/1. Cardinals from Brazil, Honduras and Germany finish off the top five at 9-10/1.

A female pope? You are joking right?

[Ron_Lugge]

Big question is, how long before we get a *female* pope?

That sounds nice. Good idea.

[Will]

dogscoff said:
Big question is, how long before we get a *female* pope?

Probably not for a long time. Papal succession is determined by high-ranking, old clergy. I believe the requirement is being a cardinal and over the age of 60, someone here probably knows the exact age. Currently, the Church says that only males can be clergy, so we would have to wait for that restriction to be lifted first. Then it would probably take a century or two for a female to rise to cardinal, and thus have the possibility of a vote in selecting a new pope. Although I guess it may be possible for a female to be selected to lead the Church by a bunch of celibate males...

Kind of along that note, I believe it is *possible* to select a lay person to be a pope, but highly unlikely. In that case, to get a lay female pope would need to overcome opposition from those who want a cardinal, AND those who want to keep it males-only.

Anyway, back on-topic, he seems to have led a good and fulfilling life, and that's all that can be asked.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

I SAID it could be 10k years or more..... sheesh.