[King Gizzard]

By Barney Henderson

10:57AM GMT 11 Feb 2013

"The pope announced that he will leave his ministry at 8:00 pm (1900 GMT) on February 28," said the spokesman, Federico Lombardi.

Last year the Pope started using a cane on occasions and recently he appeared to have trouble reading the text of an address he delivered in Rome.

There was no immediate official comment from the Vatican.

In November last year, he declared that it is "beautiful to be old".

"The quality of a society, I'd say of a civilisation, is judged by how well it treats its elderly," the 85-year-old pontiff said during the visit to the home run by the Saint Egidio Community, a Catholic charity.
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While it was "beautiful to be old", age brought challenges and difficulties with which he himself was familiar.

"I know well the difficulties, the problems and the limits of this age, and I know that these difficulties are aggravated for many people by the economic crisis," the Pope said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/reli...to-resign.html

[Niamh.]

I don't know why they always choose ancient Popes anyway

[Marc]

Yay it was fun when he was chosen last time.

[MTVN]

Pretty surprising, guess he is getting on a bit, often has to do the Midnight masses a few hours early and stuff doesn't he. Don't think he's been that bad a Pope but it's been a pretty bad few years for the Catholic Church

[Scarlett.]

I think we all know what really happened

[Niamh.]

He should resign for being the man who wrote the policies on how to cover up kiddy fiddling in the church. I'm not sure if that was the exact name of the policy, but I'm using my artistic license.

Some other ***** will now get to wear silly hats, bright red shoes, and be the leader of the most abhorrent organisation in history.

[Ammi]

..I don't think there is any need for a figurehead like the Pope anymore...it must be very expensive to have one and the money could be put to better use elsewhere....isn't that the whole point of the Roman Catholic christianity anyway...

In times like this, I like to ask if Tim Minchin has any words to contribute to the issue.

Youtube video

[Kizzy]

Well said tim!

[arista]

Yes now get it off my news Ch's

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304

The Pope is to resign at the end of this month in an entirely unexpected development, the Vatican has confirmed.

The reasons behind the head of the Catholic Church's surprise resignation have yet to emerge.

Has he gone bonkers?

Will he keep his benefits package?

Originally Posted by Omah

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304



Has he gone bonkers?

Will he keep his benefits package?

He's taking some time off to play with the genitals of 10yr old boys.

[Livia]

Are there any actual practising Catholics on the forum?

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Chewy

I think we all know what really happened

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Ammi

..I don't think there is any need for a figurehead like the Pope anymore...it must be very expensive to have one and the money could be put to better use elsewhere....isn't that the whole point of the Roman Catholic christianity anyway...

It's a pretty big part of the Catholic faith though, don't think they can really be expected to just do away with the Papacy

The Pope is still very influential too, even if most don't really care for him there are still millions who find him an inspiring figure and think he's done a lot of good work to reconnect the Church to ordinary people, his visit to Britain for example turned out to be a lot more successful than most people thought

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

How can someone so 'holy' look so evil?...

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304

The unexpected development - the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years - surprised governments, Vatican-watchers and even his closest aides.

The Vatican says it expects a new Pope to be elected before Easter.

Perhaps they'll fast-track a high-flier from the graduate intake.

[Kizzy]

[Marc]

So now he's stepping down can he be known as ex-Benedict

trollololololololol

Originally Posted by Marc

So now he's stepping down can he be known as ex-Benedict

trollololololololol

Thats a terrible yolk.

[Marc]

I thought it was a cracking joke.

Originally Posted by Marc

I thought it was a cracking joke.

You've come out of your shell.

Etc.

[Marc]

eggsetra