Pope resigns

[Guest]

Well ...

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

[Mr Pee]

Just saw it on Sky. Quite a surprise. I always thought Popes weren't able to resign. Will he get a big fat pension?

And who will succeed him? My money's on this guy:-

[BBMmk2]

I congratulate the Pope on having the courage to make this mometous decision. I find that he has had a lot of courage

[Anna]

That is a shock but, what a sensible man. He says his mind and body aren't up to the job anymore so well done him I say. What happens next, do candidates throw their hats into the ring or do they have to go through a process of selection?
(The last pope to resign was Gregory XII, in 1415, as part of a negotiated settlement at the Council of Constance to bring an end to the Great Western Schism)

[BBMmk2]

The Cardinals be gathering in a few weeks Anna. The usual centuries old procedure.

[amateur51]

Early betting ....

Ladbrokes are just behind Paddy Power with their own list of contenders. Their top three is the same: Peter Turkson, Marc Oullet and Francis Arinze.

5/2 Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson

3/1 Cardinal Marc Ouellet

4/1 Cardinal Francis Arinze

6/1 Cardinal Angelo Scola

10/1 Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga

14/1 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

14/1 Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco

16/1 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio

25/1 Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

25/1 Cardinal Claudio Hummes

25/1 Cardinal Wilfred Fox Napier

33/1 Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi

33/1 Archbishop Raymond Burke

33/1 Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera

33/1 Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi

33/1 Cardinal Timothy Dolan

33/1 Cardinal Camillo Ruini

33/1 Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn

33/1 Cardinal Ivan Dias

40/1 Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa

40/1 Cardinal William Levada

66/1 Cardinal George Pell

66/1 Monsignor Pietro Parolin

10m ago

Bookmakers Paddy Power have drawn up a list of contenders to replace Benedict. According to them the favourite is Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana (9/4), with Cardinal Marc Ouellet next at 5/2 and Francis Arinze at 7/2. Here is their full list:

9/4 Cardinal Peter Turkson

5/2 Cardinal Marc Ouellet

7/2 Cardinal Francis Arinze

7/1 Archbishop Angelo Scola

10/1 Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga

12/1 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

14/1 Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco

16/1 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio

20/1 Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

25/1 Cardinal Raymond Burke

25/1 Cardinal Cladio Hummes

25/1 Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi

25/1 Cardinal Christoph von Schonborn

33/1 Cardinal Wilfrid Napier

33/1 Cardinal William Levada

33/1 Cardinal Camillo Ruini

33/1 Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera

33/1 Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa

33/1 Cardinal Renato Martino

33/1 Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith

33/1 Archbishop Piero Marini

33/1 Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera

33/1 Cardinal Keith O’Brien

[amateur51]

The front-runner ...

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

... with apologies to Patricia Nell Warren

[eighthobstruction]

Well that's the first 20 minutes of the news sorted out....news editors everywhere jump for joy....

[Bryn]

Next business please.

[Flosshilde]

'The Pope is dead, long live the Pope'. I'm sure that it will be business as usual, with some minor tweaks.

[amateur51]

'The Pope is dead, long live the Pope'. I'm sure that it will be business as usual, with some minor tweaks.

I've checked the lists of favoured runners & riders Flossie and the name Tweaks (major or minor) does not appear

[Mr Pee]

I congratulate the Pope on having the courage to make this mometous decision. I find that he has had a lot of courage

I would be more likely to admire his courage if he had done more to tackle Paedophilia within the Catholic Church.

[amateur51]

I would be more likely to admire his courage if he had done more to tackle Paedophilia within the Catholic Church.

Why wrap it up as paedophilia? It was child abuse, an element of a far wider tendency to abuse power, sadly.

[Nick Armstrong]

Here in the motorway services, BBC News subtitles proclaim:

"Joseph rap singer was a crepe pope"

[johncorrigan]

Here in the motorway services, BBC News subtitles proclaim:

"Joseph rap singer was a crepe pope"

When one pope goes, another one popes up!