ot: 1 min of silence

[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.

[dogscoff]

I can understand why he stayed on, I mean what do you do after being the pope? You can't really just fade into the background.

True. I mean it's not like he could sit back and watch the grandkids grow up like most old folks do...

[Raging Deadstar]

I'm not exactly the holiest guy on Earth either, But my sympathies. John Paul II was a great pope in comparison to most who went before him. He managed to lead the Catholic Church quite well into modern times.

Although I don't like a lot of Catholic Beliefs he certainly did a lot more good than Evil. I hope he rests peacefully.

Dogscoff: The Pope can retire, if he chooses. I think 6 Popes have abdicated in history... (looks up Wikipedia) The last time one did was Waaaay back in 1409. All Popes can resign if they wish, but there's a lot of controversy and Issues about it if they do so. Wikipedia: Papal Abdication

[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'.

[Frederick_d_Ohlmann]

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.

The pape can said "Do not use condom" or "abortion is acceptable/is not acceptable" and be followed by a decent amount of personn. It prove that he has to take important decision so I prefer him to be fully fonctionnal.

[El_Phil]

Ahh but my point was that he'd already made all those decisions or statements years, or decades, earlier. Everyone knew what his position was on those issues.

When he spoke out on the Terri Schiavo issue was anybody anywhere surprised at which side he took?

And you can bet the next pope will probably agree, after all he appointed most of the people who will elect his sucessor.

[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?