Rome - Vatican: Pope Benedict XVI to Resign |
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Pope Benedict XVI is helped as he arrives to attend a meeting with seminarians at the Romano Maggiore seminary in Rome in this February 8, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Tony Gentile/FilesRome - Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign on Feb. 28 because he was simply too infirm to carry on - the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.
The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning.
He emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope - the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide - requires “both strength of mind and body.”
The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants.
Benedict called his choice “a decision of great importance for the life of the church.”
The move sets the stage for the Vatican to hold a conclave to elect a new pope by mid-March, since the traditional mourning time that would follow the death of a pope doesn’t have to be observed.
There are several papal contenders in the wings, but no obvious front-runner - the same situation when Benedict was elected pontiff in 2005 after the death of Pope John Paul II.
When Benedict was elected pope at age 78 - already the oldest pope elected in nearly 300 years - he had been already planning to retire as the Vatican’s chief orthodoxy watchdog to spend his final years writing in the “peace and quiet” of his native Bavaria.
Contenders to be his successor include Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the archbishop of Vienna, and Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Canadian head of the Vatican’s office for bishops.
Longshots include Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York. Although Dolan is popular and backs the pope’s conservative line, the general thinking is that the Catholic Church doesn’t need a pope from a “superpower.”
All cardinals under age 80 are allowed to vote in the conclave, the secret meeting held in the Sistine Chapel where cardinals cast ballots to elect a new pope. As per tradition, the ballots are burned after each voting round; black smoke that snakes out of the chimney means no pope has been chosen, while white smoke means a pope has been elected.
Popes are allowed to resign; church law specifies only that the resignation be “freely made and properly manifested.”
Only a handful have done so, however and there’s good reason why it hasn’t become commonplace: Might the existence of two popes - even when one has stepped down - lead to divisions and instability in the church? Might a new resignation precedent lead to pressures on future popes to quit at the slightest hint of infirmity?
Benedict himself raised the possibility of resigning if he were simply too old or sick to continue on in 2010, when he was interviewed for the book “Light of the World.”
“If a pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right, and under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign,” Benedict said.
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Read Comments (39) — Post Yours »
1
Feb 11, 2013 at 06:54 AM Reb Yid Says:Report as Inappropriate
When politicians step down they often say it's because they want to spend more time with their family. I guess that wouldn't work here?
2
Feb 11, 2013 at 07:14 AM sasregener Says:Report as Inappropriate
They just dont make them like they used to....(sic)
3
Feb 11, 2013 at 07:48 AM DRE53 Says:Report as Inappropriate
Lehavdil Bein Elef Alfei Havdolos, it would be the right thing that our gedolim and rebbes should resign from leadership once they're incapable of fulfilling those functions.
The way it works now, the godol hador can be someone suffering of altzheimers or being in a coumo.
This is the reason why there's such a lack of respect towards our leadership.
4
Feb 11, 2013 at 07:51 AM bewhiskered Says:Report as Inappropriate
"Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years."
This would of course, be the same Ratzinger who, in the 90's protected the גלח Lawrence Murphy, a molester of hundreds of boys in a school for the deaf in Wisconsin, among many other pedophile גלחים whom he enabled. Someone over there in Rome (or wherever) finally realized that in an age where the Catholic Church is being litigated against in almost every country, this particular אפיפיור, stained and tainted with pedophile enabling, is the wrong poster boy for the Church. Good riddance!
5
Feb 11, 2013 at 07:58 AM scientist Says:Report as Inappropriate
I hope he returns all stolen things from the jewish temple before he resigns.
6
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:06 AM Anon Ibid Opcit Says:Report as Inappropriate
Sounds like the right decision for himself and his church.
7
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:07 AM PaulinSaudi Says:Report as Inappropriate
He is 85 years old. That is reason enough. Are we making bets on the next pope?
8
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:19 AM pbalaw Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Lehavdil Bein Elef Alfei Havdolos, it would be the right thing that our gedolim and rebbes should resign from leadership once they're incapable of fulfilling those functions.
The way it works now, the godol hador can be someone suffering of altzheimers or being in a coumo.
This is the reason why there's such a lack of respect towards our leadership. ”
"lack of respect towards our leadership" what on earth are you talking about? Are you just bored? You just type away?
9
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:24 AM Moshe_in_Israel Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Lehavdil Bein Elef Alfei Havdolos, it would be the right thing that our gedolim and rebbes should resign from leadership once they're incapable of fulfilling those functions.
The way it works now, the godol hador can be someone suffering of altzheimers or being in a coumo.
This is the reason why there's such a lack of respect towards our leadership. ”
I agree 100%. Well said. I do think that there is much, much more to the story behind the Pope stepping down, then simply 'can't fulfill his duties'.
When Pope Gregory XII stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism, that was because of corruption within the Vatican. So, I don't think there is anything new happening here.
10
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:28 AM Big_Masmid Says:Report as Inappropriate
who cares/ he is the Avi Avos HaTumah one should not look at him not even at a picture of him
11
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:32 AM yaakov doe Says:Report as Inappropriate
Maybe the pressure from all the church scandals was gtoo much?
12
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:44 AM DovidTheK Says:Report as Inappropriate
When the Rov of my shul retired there was no news story in the Christian Science Monitor. So when the pope retires why do we care?
13
Feb 11, 2013 at 08:49 AM cool masmid Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Lehavdil Bein Elef Alfei Havdolos, it would be the right thing that our gedolim and rebbes should resign from leadership once they're incapable of fulfilling those functions.
The way it works now, the godol hador can be someone suffering of altzheimers or being in a coumo.
This is the reason why there's such a lack of respect towards our leadership. ”
How you can type those words and think you can get away with it is beyond me. Aside from your total disregard for our gedolim and what they mean to klal yisroel, your assessment is factually untrue. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself for posting such a horrible comment.
14
Feb 11, 2013 at 09:30 AM Kzler Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ who cares/ he is the Avi Avos HaTumah one should not look at him not even at a picture of him ”
The Avi Avos HaTumah Pope John 23rd issued falswe documents to Jews while in Bulgaria saving them from the gas chambers. Heiliger Masmid how many Yidden have you saved??
15
Feb 11, 2013 at 09:32 AM AlbertEinstein Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Lehavdil Bein Elef Alfei Havdolos, it would be the right thing that our gedolim and rebbes should resign from leadership once they're incapable of fulfilling those functions.
The way it works now, the godol hador can be someone suffering of altzheimers or being in a coumo.
This is the reason why there's such a lack of respect towards our leadership. ”
That's not what the Torah says.
Tzaddikim get wiser with age. Others wither away with age.
(I forgot the reference. Either the Gemara or Pirkei Avos.)
16
Feb 11, 2013 at 09:35 AM InsideOne Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ How you can type those words and think you can get away with it is beyond me. Aside from your total disregard for our gedolim and what they mean to klal yisroel, your assessment is factually untrue. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself for posting such a horrible comment. ”
The only question I have is to ask how you think you can get away with denying simple reality...you may choose to ascribe great "meaning to klal yisroel" with respect to the so-called gedolim, but the information age has revealed these people to all as ranging from evil (banning books they haven't read, protecting molesters at the expense of innocent children) to simply out of touch with reality.
These emperors truly have no clothes, though you prefer to continue to imagine them as clothed in the finest of furs.
17
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:06 AM shredready Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ "Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will resign Feb. 28, the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years."
This would of course, be the same Ratzinger who, in the 90's protected the גלח Lawrence Murphy, a molester of hundreds of boys in a school for the deaf in Wisconsin, among many other pedophile גלחים whom he enabled. Someone over there in Rome (or wherever) finally realized that in an age where the Catholic Church is being litigated against in almost every country, this particular אפיפיור, stained and tainted with pedophile enabling, is the wrong poster boy for the Church. Good riddance! ”
wish you re-post this and just change the name and input any number of rabonum
18
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:07 AM shredready Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ How you can type those words and think you can get away with it is beyond me. Aside from your total disregard for our gedolim and what they mean to klal yisroel, your assessment is factually untrue. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself for posting such a horrible comment. ”
why a godel cannot get ill cannot get dementia or alzheimer. and if they do get that should they be trusted with important issues or halacha ?
19
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:08 AM shredready Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ When the Rov of my shul retired there was no news story in the Christian Science Monitor. So when the pope retires why do we care? ”
your ruv has billions of followers all over the world who is he?
20
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:14 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Lehavdil Bein Elef Alfei Havdolos, it would be the right thing that our gedolim and rebbes should resign from leadership once they're incapable of fulfilling those functions.
The way it works now, the godol hador can be someone suffering of altzheimers or being in a coumo.
This is the reason why there's such a lack of respect towards our leadership. ”
"...the godol hador can be someone suffering of altzheimers or being a coumo;"
As a practical matter, once a rav is no longer capable of functioning and thinking coherently, as a matter of kavod and derech eretz, his gaaboim and family generally ease him out of the public glare and limit access to him. There are some gadolim today who some would argue are senile but more likley, they are just feeling more free today to state their feelings without censorship since there are so many more media outlets, websites and blogs seeking controversial quotations.
P.S. What does this have to do with the governor of NYS?
21
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:16 AM Kzler Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ How you can type those words and think you can get away with it is beyond me. Aside from your total disregard for our gedolim and what they mean to klal yisroel, your assessment is factually untrue. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself for posting such a horrible comment. ”
It is beyond me how you call yourself a masmid based on the nonsense you are posting
22
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:21 AM clear-thinker Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ When the Rov of my shul retired there was no news story in the Christian Science Monitor. So when the pope retires why do we care? ”
They don't care because your Rov affects the forty (or perhaps 400) members of your Shule. The people of the Shule hopefully care and might make note of it in the Shule's announcements
The Pope can have a great effect on the safety of Jews in many countries. He may influence people on their views towards the State of Israel and other issues vital to the Jewish people.
Try this....the head of your local school board is defeated in an election. The President of the United States is elected. What is the headline in the the Christian Science Monitor?
Before anyone gets too excited...I certainly am not commenting on how important another religion is, only on how much its leadership can effect us.
23
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:31 AM monalisa Says:Report as Inappropriate
Who cares? Since when have Catholics been good to the Jews? On the bright side....the next one might be that Jewish Cardinal. Such nachas.
24
Feb 11, 2013 at 10:50 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Personally, I think its a good example that old age is not a time to be running around and performing "miracles" for the clan to be seen in your lifetime. If you are elderly and want to enjoy your aging years, have the dignity to know when to lay it down and keep your own privacy. I would.
25
Feb 11, 2013 at 11:08 AM Mark Levin Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ They just dont make them like they used to....(sic) ”
(sic) ?????
Do you even know what that stands for? Seemingly not so I will inform you. Its an abbreviation for "Spelled InCorrectly" and since at first glance you actually made no spelling errors, there's no reason to get SIC over this.
Kol tuv.
26
Feb 11, 2013 at 11:42 AM Big_Masmid Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The Avi Avos HaTumah Pope John 23rd issued falswe documents to Jews while in Bulgaria saving them from the gas chambers. Heiliger Masmid how many Yidden have you saved?? ”
Reb Yakov Kamenetzsky z"l said that with all the good that he might have done he is still "The Avi Avos HaTumah"
28
Feb 11, 2013 at 12:37 PM Smokey Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ (sic) ?????
Do you even know what that stands for? Seemingly not so I will inform you. Its an abbreviation for "Spelled InCorrectly" and since at first glance you actually made no spelling errors, there's no reason to get SIC over this.
Kol tuv. ”
The definition of "sic", from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is:
3sic
adverb \ˈsik, ˈsēk\
Definition of SIC
: intentionally so written —used after a printed word or passage to indicate that it is intended exactly as printed or to indicate that it exactly reproduces an original
Origin of SIC
Latin, so, thus — more at so
First Known Use: circa 1859
By the way, you made a spelling error when you spelled "it's" as "its". "it's" is an abbreviation for "it is".and "its" indicates possessive form.. .
29
Feb 11, 2013 at 12:48 PM Smokey Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ (sic) ?????
Do you even know what that stands for? Seemingly not so I will inform you. Its an abbreviation for "Spelled InCorrectly" and since at first glance you actually made no spelling errors, there's no reason to get SIC over this.
Kol tuv. ”
A good pope can make a difference. Most Jews fail to understand the tremendous significance of the letter that Pope John Paul II placed in a crevice of the Kotel.on March 26, 2000. Until then no other pope had asked for forgiveness from Hashem for sins committed by Christians against Jews. That letter has since prevented the loss of life for many Jews. I reprint it here with a hyphen substituted at the appropriate place.:
G-d of our fathers,
You chose Abraham and his descendants
to bring your Name to the Nations:
we are deeply saddened
by the behaviour of those
who in the course of history
have caused these children of yours to suffer,
and asking your forgiveness
we wish to commit ourselves
to genuine brotherhood
with the people of the Covenant.
Jerusalem 26, March 2000
Signed: John Paul II
.
30
Feb 11, 2013 at 01:07 PM &Mrs; AmHaAretz Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ (sic) ?????
Do you even know what that stands for? Seemingly not so I will inform you. Its an abbreviation for "Spelled InCorrectly" and since at first glance you actually made no spelling errors, there's no reason to get SIC over this.
Kol tuv. ”
sic (sik). [Latin "so, thus"] Spelled OR USED as written. * Sic, invariably bracketed and often set in italics, is used to indicate that a preceding WORD OR PHRASE in a quoted passage IS REPRODUCED AS IT APPEARED IN THE ORIGINAL document....
-- Black's law Dictionary (Second Pocket Edition)
31
Feb 11, 2013 at 01:25 PM Anon Ibid Opcit Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ How you can type those words and think you can get away with it is beyond me. Aside from your total disregard for our gedolim and what they mean to klal yisroel, your assessment is factually untrue. You really ought to be ashamed of yourself for posting such a horrible comment. ”
But he's right. Human beings are made of flesh and blood. They wear out. Their judgment erodes. They get diseases which make it impossible to do their jobs. This affects rabbis and leaders just like it affects doctors and dock workers. When a man is incapable of carrying out his responsibilities it's time for him to step down.
32
Feb 11, 2013 at 01:48 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ your ruv has billions of followers all over the world who is he? ”
But what does the Pope have to with the yidden.
You just missed the whole point of this person's comment.
Not surprising in the least. Diminished mental capacity will cause that.
33
Feb 11, 2013 at 01:56 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ wish you re-post this and just change the name and input any number of rabonum ”
Just in case anyone thought that there was any לשמה for shready, he once again clarifies his position.
He, in several comments here, as inane as his comments tend to be, puts the pope on a pedestal. Someone who as part of his responsibilities to the church covered up and hid thousands upon thousands of molesters and hundreds if thousands of cases of molestation and abuse. Shready would just use it to bashmutz Rabonim with claims that he has no knowledge of. Just supposition.
His true color shines. Yes it is a slimy brown color. But we all know that.
34
Feb 11, 2013 at 02:18 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I'll miss the Nazi raised Pope who has recently issued some iffy rulings in relationship to the Jews. Perhaps it has become too difficult to stand in those Dorthy Red Slippers.
35
Feb 11, 2013 at 03:07 PM bewhiskered Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ wish you re-post this and just change the name and input any number of rabonum ”
"wish you re-post this and just change the name and input any number of rabonum."
While I totally agree that today's leading רבנים have certainly dropped the ball concerning child molesters, whom they protect and enable, my above post was strictly for the shortly leaving אפיפיור, who deserved every word of it.
36
Feb 11, 2013 at 03:53 PM AmericanJew Says:Report as Inappropriate
Timothy Dolan would be the best Pope for us I mean. He can be made to understand the importance of our rabbis being admitted to the catacoumbs of the Vatican to study our ancient texts and the holy artifacts of the Bet Hamidosh. (please excuse my spelling)
37
Feb 11, 2013 at 05:37 PM Tzi_Bar_David Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Timothy Dolan would be the best Pope for us I mean. He can be made to understand the importance of our rabbis being admitted to the catacoumbs of the Vatican to study our ancient texts and the holy artifacts of the Bet Hamidosh. (please excuse my spelling) ”
Dolan is too young; I don't think the Catholics want long pontificates like JP2...a Catholic I work with said it sets the stamp of one man on the entire organization for too long. He predicted someone in the early 70's with an projected shelf life of 10-15 years or so.
38
Feb 11, 2013 at 06:01 PM Cute Says:Report as Inappropriate
Do you think any member of the Moietzes Gedoley Hatorah will take the Pope's move as an inspiration and resign out of old age???
39
Feb 11, 2013 at 07:44 PM Norden Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ (sic) ?????
Do you even know what that stands for? Seemingly not so I will inform you. Its an abbreviation for "Spelled InCorrectly" and since at first glance you actually made no spelling errors, there's no reason to get SIC over this.
Kol tuv. ”
You are completely wrong Mark Levin #25 - but this will be neither the first nor the last time that you have made yourself look utterly foolish here.
The Latin word "sic" literally means "thus" or, in full "sic erat scriptum", or "thus it was written". Now that's a far, far cry from your glib and totally erroneous "Spelled InCorrectly"!
Ah! The benefits of both a religious AND a secular education, especially in the Classics.
40
Feb 12, 2013 at 06:51 AM Pony Express Says:Report as Inappropriate
In relation to Torah, this is a very interesting event. It would appear that the world of the Papacy which aligns the church of the catholic faith under a solid auspice of its own 'justice' may have succumbed to the human condition. I wonder if this may mean that many more changes will take place in a religion of somewhat indifferent people on the token of human suffering in the modern era.