Pope resigns

[Mr Pee]

Indeed; Beethoven, that other famous German, knew when certain things ended at 111...

[teamsaint]

LVB was a keen cricket fan , Peester.

[vinteuil]

LVB was a keen cricket fan , Peester.

... but not so good at darts.

[Cornet IV]

I've just heard this announcement on the news: "I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me." For me the brazen use of a split infinitive in the official translation of the pontiff's resignation statement is more momentous than the event itself.

Perhaps the Vatican press office employed a Telegraph leader writer. The split infinitive is small beer in the canon of grammatical horrors employed by this august organ and to which it is difficult to become inured.

It certainly has been an uninspired and uninspiring pontificate.

[MrGongGong]

Sadly, I appear to be much too young to even consider accepting the ultimate honour, Ferret.

So it's fellow-scottycelt Cardinal Keith O'Brien for me, especially at a tempting 33-1!

aaah yes the paragon of Christian tolerance and forgiveness

[amateur51]

The Telegraph has gone to town in its coverage from all angles ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/9862227/Pope-resigns-live.html

including

16.30 The Telegraph's graphics team has put together a great tool to look at previous papal resignations in the last 1,000 years, the key events in Pope Benedict XVI's service and what happens now to elect a new pope.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/reli...ppens-now.html

[Vile Consort]

I've just heard this announcement on the news: "I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me." For me the brazen use of a split infinitive in the official translation of the pontiff's resignation statement is more momentous than the event itself.

Serves you right. You should have read it in the original Latin.

[BBMmk2]

aaah yes the paragon of Christian tolerance and forgiveness

Yes MrGG!

How can the Catholic Church consider itself a forgiving church, when it doesnt forgive people whose marriages,, end in divorce?

[Bryn]

Dawkins at his most typical:

"I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex."

[secret squirrel]

To put it into context, the last time this this happened was the same year as the Battle of Agincourt and (obviously) before Richard III...

It is actually quite an astonishing and brave thing to have done on the one hand, knowing history will record this act above (probably) anything else.

Yet on the other, and quite seriously, how does the next Pope handle having his predecessor still alive? Which of them is then God's 'chosen one'?
I sincerely don't mean to be rude or disrespectful, but will it sow more seeds of doubt in the minds of the ever-increasing number of scientifically-aware and 21st century faithful?

And, lastly, what better way does this act by another demonstrate the Queen's aherence to her Coronation Vows re service and duty ['till death]?

I should add that I am (perhaps obviously) not a Roman Catholic, but I do admire this man's decision and cannot fathom the pain he must have endured in making it. I hope he enjoys a long and happy 'retirement' (?).

[Flosshilde]

Dawkins at his most typical:

"I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex."

[Vile Consort]

Dawkins at his most typical:

"I feel sorry for the Pope and all old Catholic priests. Imagine having a wasted life to look back on and no sex."

Not in all cases, obviously.

[amateur51]

Not in all cases, obviously.

Ouch!

[Bryn]

Ouch!

Given the serious nature of the psychological damage done to some of the victims, seems rather out of order. However ...

[Richard Tarleton]

Huw Edwards has flown out to Rome and is anchoring the 10.00 news from the Vatican. Has the BBC gone completely mad?