I have to concur with others, your positions here are absurd.
There is no rule, or theological reason, why a Pope cannot retire.
I will feel better when I have a good quote to that effect, and no one here objects. I dont know, I am here for instruction.
In case you missed, it, Benedict's predecessor stayed until his death, even while having Parkinson's. He was not a wuss.
Thanks for the help with my case, but I would prefer to do it alone, if you dont mind.
Although John Paul II stayed in office, and inspired people with that choice, it is very difficult for outsiders like us to know how badly this may have impeded his ability to do the job at a critical time.
Sure, and I bet Popes not able to do much of anything happened, but the question that was on the table is still there....why do almost all the Popes go that way, and why did this one not.
No one was embarrassed by Benedict XVI's choice to retire.
I look around, and I gotta say, I see no evidence on that either way.
Benedict XVI's physical health is reportedly not good, though he is reportedly lucid.
I have seen no reports that I trust.
Because few of them lived to 83.
From 1500 to the present, on average popes were elected at 64, died at 74, serving 10 years in office. Benedict XVI was one of the oldest popes elected, and served 8 years. Even in modern times, few popes were still in office in their 80s.
You are aware that we tend to live longer than our ancestors, if you are going back to 1500 a lot longer....
Because nothing in the New Testament says that Popes are required to die in office.
Do you have a quote on when servants are released from their vows to serve?
Nor does Christian ethics require that a priest take the "hard road." It seems evident that what matters is right actions, right intent, faith and *cough* compassion.
I do believe their is something about modeling strength as best one can.
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" - Matthew 7:1-3
A superbly dumb idea, I cant get along in this world without judging, no one can.
You do realize you've gone from "our Popes are wimps" to "no one would quit that job" to "he didn't think he was good enough."
Does not mean he should have quit. Maybe he should have tried harder.
I see no evidence that Benedict XVI thought he was doing a bad job
. Rome reforms had failed, he had been out maneuvered and everyone knew it, including the POPE.
He also had no way to know for certain who would replace him,
Does not matter, if he had decided that he could not then anyone coming in had a better chance than he did, was a better bet
and while he seems to support Francis, AFAIK they do not share theological positions. In particular, Benedict is more conservative than Francis.
Frances has done a much better job of handling Rome, and seems more modern, which is a good thing. However, the fact that this POPE leaving was likely better for the Church does not explain why he left when almost no one else does, which is the answer I am after, as well as wanting to touch base with Christians about this whole thing.
NOTE: I like will not answer a bunch of posts in this thread, I have no time at present.