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Forums - General - Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month

ArnoldRimmer on 11 February 2013

I'm a bit sad about this.
I never had much sympathy for the vatican, the pope or the catholic church, but Benedict's way somehow impressed me. His funeral ceremony for the old pope for example - I saw it by accident back at the time but got hooked because it was quite moving and not as I had expected from the catholic church. And also the fact that he voluntarily resigned because he realized that his body has become to unfit to do the job as he believed it should be done. Most people would stick to the pope chair until they die.



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Cobretti2 on 11 February 2013
darkknightkryta said:
Cobretti2 said:
darkknightkryta said:
They need a young guy. The church is too stuck in the past.


It will never happen as people complained about the last Pope being in power too long (like over 25years). If anything they will pick and even older guy so he doesn't last longer than 5 years.

Who complained about Paul?


lots of people. They said his ways of running the church were outdated and needed to be refreshed. Even my religion teacher at school said the Pope needs to update what happens at Chruch to attract young people. He basically described a night club without the alcohol lol.



 

 

NiKKoM on 11 February 2013

Only in the UK you can bet on the succesor:

Betting odds acquired from Paddy Power.

http://www.channel4.com/news/popes-with-a-hope-the-men-tipped-to-succeed-benedict-xvi

Cardinal Marc Ouellet (Canada) - 11/4

The front runner to take over from Benedict XVI, Cardinal Ouellet is the current prefect for the Congregation of Bishops, which oversees the selection of all bishops worldwide, as well as the Archbishop of Quebec.

He courted controversy in 2010 when he said abortion was an unjustifiable moral crime, even in the case of rape. He is seen as sharing the same views as the current Pope on a range of issues.

In 2007 he publicly apologised for what he described as past "errors" of the church in Quebec, including the promotion of anti-Semitism and racism, and discrimination against women and homosexuals.

Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana) - 3/1

If Benedict XVI's resignation leads to the first ever black Pope, chances are it will be Cardinal Peter Turkson - the current president of the Vatican organisation which promotes justice, peace and human rights worldwide.

His view, from an interview in 2009, is "if God would wish to see a black man also as Pope, thanks be to God".

He has taken a more liberal view than some regarding contraception - whilst he has reaffirmed Catholic teaching that condoms are not a solution to Africa's Aids crisis, he has not ruled out the use of contraception in certain circumstances, such as a married couple where one partner is infected.

Cardinal Francis Arinze (Nigeria) - 7/2

Another chance for the Catholic church's first black Pope lies with Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze. Arinze took over from Joseph Ratzinger as cardinal-bishop of Velletri-Segni when Raztinger was elevated to the status of Pope.

However, at 81 he is one of the older potential successors, and in 2008 he retired from his senior position as prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship.

His views are in keeping with those of Benedict XVI, saying in a speech in 2008: "In many parts of the world, the family is under siege. It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as is seen in contraception, abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalised by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce."

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (Argentina) - 6/1

The head of the Vatican department for Eastern churches is the Argentine-born son of Italian immigrants - providing a potential compromise for those who want to see an Italian at the head of the church, whilst at the same time resulting in the first Pope from the southern hemisphere.

Sandri is seen as a very successful administrator, having also served as the chief of staff in the Vatican. However, this could count against him as someone who is seen as better at keeping things running, rather than being the inspirational figure required of the Pope.

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy) - 7/1

The Vatican's culture minister since 2007.

He prepared for a recent Vatican conference on youth culture by listening to Amy Winehouse.

He is also a keen user of Twitter, and has 34,285 followers.

He has said that preaching in church had become formulaic and risks becoming "irrelevant".

 

 

Archbishop Angelo Scola (Venice) - 8/1

The son of a lorry driver is today the Archbishop of Milan, and a widely respected intellectual within right-wing political circles. He is the author of a wide range of theological works.

He has aired views that the church should relax its rules on bio-ethical issues such as stem-cell research.

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga (Honduras) - 10/1

The Honduran cardinal has been the Vatican's spokesperson with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank on the issue of developing nations' debts.

He shares many views with Benedict XVI, on issues such as the use of contraception to prevent Aids, and abortion. He has said that a politician who publicly supports abortion excommunicates himself and that there is no benefit in the fight against Aids in using contraceptives.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco (Italy) 12/1

In 2007 Bagnasco angered gay-rights campaigners by condemning same-sex marriage - comparing it with incest and paedophilia.

He has also expressed strong opposition to abortion.

He is the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference and the Archbishop of Genoa.

 

 

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (Italy) - 16/1

Close to the Pope in both theology and conservative beliefs, he was plucked from relative obscurity by Benedict XVI to be appointed Cardinal Secretary of State - the Vatican's prime minister.

He has urged stronger punishment by the church of drug dealers, including excommunication. He was also the target of much of the leaks in the Vatileaks scandal - something he has blamed on journalists.

As recently as April 2010 he has angered the gay community by blaming the child abuse scandal within the church on homosexuality.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Argentina) - 20/1

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires has for a long time preached a message of compassion towards the poor.

He has also taught the importance of respecting people who are gay, but has strongly opposed same-sex marriage in Argentina, and has said that gay adoption is a form of discrimination against children.

 



 

Face the future.. Gamecenter ID: nikkom_nl (oh no he didn't!!) 

osed125 on 11 February 2013

I guess he decided to go to the dark side.



Nintendo and PC gamer

darkknightkryta on 11 February 2013
Cobretti2 said:
darkknightkryta said:
Cobretti2 said:
darkknightkryta said:
They need a young guy. The church is too stuck in the past.


It will never happen as people complained about the last Pope being in power too long (like over 25years). If anything they will pick and even older guy so he doesn't last longer than 5 years.

Who complained about Paul?


lots of people. They said his ways of running the church were outdated and needed to be refreshed. Even my religion teacher at school said the Pope needs to update what happens at Chruch to attract young people. He basically described a night club without the alcohol lol.

Benedict made things worse to say the truth.  Paul wasn't really too bad.  But I agree with the sentiment for change, that's why when I said young, I meant 25 years of age young, 30 tops.



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Cobretti2 on 11 February 2013
darkknightkryta said:
Cobretti2 said:
darkknightkryta said:
Cobretti2 said:
darkknightkryta said:
They need a young guy. The church is too stuck in the past.


It will never happen as people complained about the last Pope being in power too long (like over 25years). If anything they will pick and even older guy so he doesn't last longer than 5 years.

Who complained about Paul?


lots of people. They said his ways of running the church were outdated and needed to be refreshed. Even my religion teacher at school said the Pope needs to update what happens at Chruch to attract young people. He basically described a night club without the alcohol lol.

Benedict made things worse to say the truth.  Paul wasn't really too bad.  But I agree with the sentiment for change, that's why when I said young, I meant 25 years of age young, 30 tops.


I know what you meant but the Vatican won't  let it happen as a 25 year old would probably be pope for 50 years unless he resigned. 

I do agree with you however.



 

 

darkknightkryta on 11 February 2013
Cobretti2 said:
darkknightkryta said:

Benedict made things worse to say the truth.  Paul wasn't really too bad.  But I agree with the sentiment for change, that's why when I said young, I meant 25 years of age young, 30 tops.


I know what you meant but the Vatican won't  let it happen as a 25 year old would probably be pope for 50 years unless he resigned. 

I do agree with you however.

They won't.



Kantor on 11 February 2013

Fun fact: According to something called the Prophecy of the Popes (probably written around 1490), Benedict XVI would be the penultimate pope.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes

The last is named as Peter the Roman.


"In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit [i.e., as bishop].
Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations:
and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills [Rome] will be destroyed,
and the terrible judge will judge his people.
The End."

And the name of the frontrunner? Peter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Turkson

This is probably all complete nonsense, but it's fun nonetheless.



(Former) Lead Moderator and (Eternal) VGC Detective

Mr Khan on 11 February 2013
kitler53 said:
Heavenly_King said:
kitler53 said:
begs the question of why. i don't buy the "too old" statement..

Well, I believe him.    If he thinks he is now longer suited for the role whatever the reason, then it is fine for him to resign, because he most probably wont be able to fulfill the duties he must do.   He is just a man, the leader of Catholic people in the world, but he is just a man.

For example if you have to do a job,  at first it is challenging but you do it great, but after some years you realize you can not do it as good as it should be done because of A,B or C reason.    You will still do the best possible job according to your current limitations, but you know it is not enough.   Then you realize that there is  good worthy people with you that could fulfill the role in the best possible way, so why not resign?

all i'm saying is (from my research this morining, i'm certainly no expert) that it has been ~600 years since the last papal resignation and none of the previous resignations were for something as insignifant as "i'm old".  it sounds like an excuse not a reason. 

To be fair, he could just be the first pope with the courage to say "I'm too old."

While my money's on "scandal sidestepping" too, times are changing now, where the elderly are getting less shame for admitting to senility and easing themselves out of the public life instead of clinging on until the bitter end. Would that my maternal granddad would do that, it'd make things so much easier on my mom :/



Monster Hunter: pissing me off since 2010.

Cobretti2 on 11 February 2013
Kantor said:

Fun fact: According to something called the Prophecy of the Popes (probably written around 1490), Benedict XVI would be the penultimate pope.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes

The last is named as Peter the Roman.


"In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit [i.e., as bishop].
Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations:
and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills [Rome] will be destroyed,
and the terrible judge will judge his people.
The End."

And the name of the frontrunner? Peter.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Turkson

This is probably all complete nonsense, but it's fun nonetheless.


FYI: Some where around this prophecy it mentions that he will also be black. I can't rememebr where I read it about the black pope lol.

People seem to think Obama is the black pope that will ruin America haha.