What a shock. I just hope the next pope is more aggressive pushing catholic doctrine and taking action against pro abortion and pro gay politicians.

...rather than trail off into ineptitude and die in office? Shows more compassion, courtesy, and common sense than most of our Legislators.

This Pope has been too soft on Islam. Time for a change.

The Pope is not here to do our political bidding, the Pope is here to lead the Catholic Church. This is a stunning decision.

The news of the Pope resigning is enough of a shock, but to do so before Easter...? I can´t help but wonder what´s really going on.

If life today was a movie, it would seem the bad guys are winning more and more. And the good guys are just stepping aside.

I think your assessment might be a bit premature, #7, until we see who is elected to replace Pope Benedict.
A little more warning would have been nice though. There is definitely more to learn, possibly health issues that are more dire than is obvious? Whatever, time will tell. If God isn´t in control here...

This is the act of a truly holy man. God bless him for his humility and for all he has done to turn the hierarchy back to the path of tradition.

Now, let Petrus Romanus come.

Perhaps he believes that by doing this, he can play more of a role in picking his successor...? Though I don´t know, this is a confusing thing and I agree with the above poster that more warning would have been nice. We Catholics do not do well with sudden change. He must be in very bad shape and he needs our prayers. God Bless him.

There are powerful underlings that are perfectly willing to take on the challenges of the Pope´s office when the Pope is ill or infirm or increasingly incapable due to age. These Unelected underlings have been known to intrigue among themselves for their agendas.

At this time in The Church´s history, the Pope has apparently seen it is necessary to bring these underlings under control as he is physically and mentally not up to the task due to his advancing age and the illnesses that accompany it.

The article is wrong. Several Popes have resigned, the last being Gregory XII in 1415, who resigned to end the Great Western Schism.

wow 9 - that was my immediate thought...

Soft on Islam? You obviously have not read his books. The pope has come out and said that Islam is incompatible with Christianity.

I think he chose to make this announcement before Lent began so that a new Pope will be in place before Easter. He probably fears he´ll die or be incapacitated by Easter. Perhaps a sudden and severe decline in health...he doesn´t want to leave the Church leaderless at Easter.

There was a wonderful documentary recently about the relationship between Pope Julius and Michelangelo. Michelangelo was employed by Pope Julius to paint the Sistine Chapel and to construct the Pope´s tomb. It was interesting that, during the long period of Michelangelo´s employment, the artist became involved in the web of intrigue regarding perceived threats to the Catholic Chruch from forces who were questioning its validity as the type of institution it had become.

As for Pope Benedict, if he feels it´s time to go, it´s his privilege to choose to do so. He´s been a long-time servant and has done the job required of him. Nobody should begrudge him that, not even those who sticky by the notion that Popes should serve until the end of their lives.

I have a hige respect for Benedict XVI, his big heart and good mind, and I assume that he figures that it he resigns while he still has most of his strength and mental sharpness, he can move the chess pieces to get a good successor.

He´s appointed a lot of Cardinals, which pretty much sets up his "electoral college".

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Veni Sancte Spiritus.

I am not that surprised. I watch most of his appearances on EWTN and he has been increasingly frail. The rigors of public ministry during Holy Week are probably more than he could manage.

The timing is actually quite exquisite in terms of the liturgical year: Benedict´s last public ministry will be Ash Wednesday services and a new Pope should be in place in time for Holy Week on March 24.

He was waiting until he was fully vested.

I wonder if he is ill and wants to make sure the office is held by someone more robust. I wish him well, even though he´s a Socialist.

The article is also wrong about Benedict never giving any hint that he might step down. When he became Pope he clearly stated that resignation was an option he might take.

Now that´s funny #19.

.......now if we could just convince Obama to quit "for good of country."

Now if only Dope Obama I and Vice Dope Biden I would resign for the good of the country.

#19, good one. Wonder how the vatican handles pension and medicare. Probably not as fat as what they hand out in DC for our princesses and popes

My first thought is the globalists are scrambling now to insert their guy in this powerful role.

My second thought - maybe he had a ´come to Jesus´ moment and realized his organization is also a corrupt, political institution that is not serving Christ and needed to step aside to a) expose the moneychangers in the temple or b) protect his life and those he is close with.

´´Petrus Romanus?´´ Whoa! We´ll see.

I suspect our New Pope will be from Africa, Central or South America. The Church is growing in these area´s faster then others.

That is fine with this Catholic. I leave it to The College of Cardinals to make an informed and Fath filled choice.

The media already are campaigning loudly for a non-white pope who will favor unrestricted abortion, endorse gay marriage, and who will be deferential toward Islam. Sounds like a shopping list of total irreconcilables. I am not a Roman Catholic, but my understanding of the African Church is that it is far more rigorous and conservative in its beliefs and practices than are the European or American Churches, say. #9, that is a frightening thought.

I suspect that the Cardinals could not care less about who the media would prefer to be the next Bishop of Rome.

Why have a pension plan when the office holder dies rather than retire.
Do they have food stamps in Rome?