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Andreas Gebert / dpa via AP
A priest stands in front of the birthplace of Pope Benedict XVI in the German village of Marktl on Monday, after Benedict announced he would resign because he no longer felt up to the rigors of the job.
MARKTL, Germany -- "We are Pope!" declared the German daily 'Bild' proudly and boldly on its front page after Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005. Now, the dream of a German pope is over. Soon it could be "We were Pope!"
The sudden news of the Pope's resignation shocked his native Germany. Radio stations reported that some at first thought the announcement was a bad carnival joke.
"I was shocked, because it came as a real surprise for, I think, everyone, as there were no signs of a resignation," said Josef Kaiser, a local Catholic priest in the Pope's birthplace, Marktl. Benedict was born Joseph Ratzinger in this Bavarian hamlet in 1927.
After his election, thousands descended on the village in southeastern Germany and his family's former home was turned into a museum. In the ensuing years, 200,000 visitors came to Marktl. On Monday, the evening of his resignation announcement, crowds of mostly journalists and photographers surrounded the pope's birthplace -- the bright lights of television crews lighting up the building possibly for the last time.
Mentioning no specific ailment other than 'advanced age,' Pope Benedict's parting came as a shocking announcement for many – except for the Pope's brother, who said he knew Benedict had been thinking about stepping down for months. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
"Marktl changed, because this was a very sleepy, small village of about two and a half thousand inhabitants and suddenly through the pope's election, it became the center of media attention," Kaiser said.
"It's quite sad that he already resigned," said Marktl's mayor, Hubert Gschwendtner.
"At first I didn't believe it," Gschwendtner added. "Last June I met him in Rome and he seemed quite well mentally and physically."
But the Pope's brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, said Benedict's resignation was not sudden for him. He knew it was a process that had started a while ago and worsened as he weakened.
"He didn't have the strength anymore that the office demands," Ratzinger said.
Javier Barbancho / AFP - Getty Images
Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. Look back at his life from childhood through his papacy.
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We agnostics and atheists are just loving all of this. The media is treating this like the world is literally falling apart.
MJ196 - The media sure got your attention about these news. Long live the Catholic Church !
Biggest concentration of Catholic in the world are at Brazil and Mexico, that's enough for me to know what kind of people they belong in.
Still believe in fairy tale today. If using old standard, we are actually performing MIRACLES world-wide every seconds. Imagine that.
Religion notwithstanding, this man created and implemented the Pedophile Protection Program. He is a criminal who has devastated millions of lives. He contibuted to the brutality of children, which in many cases led to suicide. I am elated that he has resigned, but infuriated that he is not in prison suffering the same fate that he blithely imposed on children whose familied not only trusted, but revered him. He is a disgusting pig.
bishopsaccountability.org "survivor's accounts"
"But the Pope's brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, said Benedict's resignation was not sudden for him"
Do you suppose this brother was also a Nazi during Hitler's reign?
Wilsonard you were a perfect end to a bunch of jibber jabber from people who know nomore about what their talking about than your friendly little come on advertisement! Thank you, you have defined the state of what the public knows about the goings on in the catholic church. Very Good!! You are truly a messenger from God!
The world has and always be a little loose, as you know, it's the church and the media clowns that are always falling apart.
I see no one treating it like it's the end of the world. It is almost an unprecedented move, and that's why it's getting the attention it is. Nice hyperbole though.
I thought the pope was the right hand of mr god. How can he resigned. I guess not enough faith..............So does that mean the ex-pope cannot get into heaven, since he turned his back on mr. god?
"Long live the Catholic Church !"
hmmmm...............didn't know the c-church had a battle cry?
Hello folks,
When it comes to bull@!$%#, big-time, major league bull@!$%#, you have to stand in awe of the all-time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims, religion. No contest. No contest. Religion. Religion easily has the greatest bull@!$%# story ever told. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky who watches everything you do, every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do. And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever 'til the end of time!
But He loves you. He loves you, and He needs money! He always needs money! He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing, and all-wise, somehow just can't handle money! Religion takes in billions of dollars, they pay no taxes, and they always need a little more. Now, you talk about a good bull@!$%# story. Holy @!$%#!
But I want you to know something, this is sincere, I want you to know, when it comes to believing in God, I really tried. I really, really tried. I tried to believe that there is a God, who created each of us in His own image and likeness, loves us very much, and keeps a close eye on things. I really tried to believe that, but I gotta tell you, the longer you live, the more you look around, the more you realize, something is @!$%#ed up.
Something is wrong here. War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption, and the Ice Capades. Something is definitely wrong. This is not good work. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed. Results like these do not belong on the résumé of a Supreme Being. This is the kind of @!$%# you'd expect from an office temp with a bad attitude. And just between you and me, in any decently-run universe, this guy would've been out on his all-powerful ass a long time ago. And by the way, I say "this guy", because I firmly believe, looking at these results, that if there is a God, it has to be a man.
No woman could or would ever @!$%# things up like this. So, if there is a God, I think most reasonable people might agree that he's at least incompetent, and maybe, just maybe, doesn't give a @!$%#. Doesn't give a @!$%#, which I admire in a person, and which would explain a lot of these bad results.
So rather than be just another mindless religious robot, mindlessly and aimlessly and blindly believing that all of this is in the hands of some spooky incompetent father figure who doesn't give a @!$%#, I decided to look around for something else to worship. Something I could really count on.
And immediately, I thought of the sun. Happened like that. Overnight I became a sun-worshipper. Well, not overnight, you can't see the sun at night. But first thing the next morning, I became a sun-worshipper. Several reasons. First of all, I can see the sun, okay? Unlike some other gods I could mention, I can actually see the sun. I'm big on that. If I can see something, I don't know, it kind of helps the credibility along, you know? So everyday I can see the sun, as it gives me everything I need; heat, light, food, flowers in the park, reflections on the lake, an occasional skin cancer, but hey. At least there are no crucifixions, and we're not setting people on fire simply because they don't agree with us.
Sun worship is fairly simple. There's no mystery, no miracles, no pageantry, no one asks for money, there are no songs to learn, and we don't have a special building where we all gather once a week to compare clothing. And the best thing about the sun, it never tells me I'm unworthy. Doesn't tell me I'm a bad person who needs to be saved. Hasn't said an unkind word. Treats me fine. So, I worship the sun. But, I don't pray to the sun. Know why? I wouldn't presume on our friendship. It's not polite.
I've often thought people treat God rather rudely, don't you? Asking trillions and trillions of prayers every day. Asking and pleading and begging for favors. Do this, gimme that, I need a new car, I want a better job. And most of this praying takes place on Sunday His day off. It's not nice. And it's no way to treat a friend.
But people do pray, and they pray for a lot of different things, you know, your sister needs an operation on her crotch, your brother was arrested for defecating in a mall. But most of all, you'd really like to @!$%# that hot little redhead down at the convenience store. You know, the one with the eyepatch and the clubfoot? Can you pray for that? I think you'd have to. And I say, fine. Pray for anything you want. Pray for anything, but what about the Divine Plan?
Remember that? The Divine Plan. Long time ago, God made a Divine Plan. Gave it a lot of thought, decided it was a good plan, put it into practice. And for billions and billions of years, the Divine Plan has been doing just fine. Now, you come along, and pray for something. Well suppose the thing you want isn't in God's Divine Plan? What do you want Him to do? Change His plan? Just for you? Doesn't it seem a little arrogant? It's a Divine Plan. What's the use of being God if every run-down shmuck with a two-dollar prayerbook can come along and @!$%# up Your Plan?
And here's something else, another problem you might have: Suppose your prayers aren't answered. What do you say? "Well, it's God's will." "Thy Will Be Done." Fine, but if it's God's will, and He's going to do what He wants to anyway, why the @!$%# bother praying in the first place? Seems like a big waste of time to me! Couldn't you just skip the praying part and go right to His Will? It's all very confusing.
So to get around a lot of this, I decided to worship the sun. But, as I said, I don't pray to the sun. You know who I pray to? Joe Pesci. Two reasons: First of all, I think he's a good actor, okay? To me, that counts. Second, he looks like a guy who can get things done. Joe Pesci doesn't @!$%# around. In fact, Joe Pesci came through on a couple of things that God was having trouble with.
For years I asked God to do something about my noisy neighbor with the barking dog, Joe Pesci straightened that @!$%# out with one visit. It's amazing what you can accomplish with a simple baseball bat.
So I've been praying to Joe for about a year now. And I noticed something. I noticed that all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being answered at about the same 50% rate. Half the time I get what I want, half the time I don't. Same as God, 50-50. Same as the four-leaf clover and the horseshoe, the wishing well and the rabbit's foot, same as the Mojo Man, same as the Voodoo Lady who tells you your fortune by squeezing the goat's testicles, it's all the same: 50-50. So just pick your superstition, sit back, make a wish, and enjoy yourself.
And for those of you who look to The Bible for moral lessons and literary qualities, I might suggest a couple of other stories for you. You might want to look at the Three Little Pigs, that's a good one. Has a nice happy ending, I'm sure you'll like that. Then there's Little Red Riding Hood, although it does have that X-rated part where the Big Bad Wolf actually eats the grandmother. Which I didn't care for, by the way. And finally, I've always drawn a great deal of moral comfort from Humpty Dumpty. The part I like the best? "All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty back together again." That's because there is no Humpty Dumpty, and there is no God. None, not one, no God, never was.
In fact, I'm gonna put it this way. If there is a God, may he strike this audience dead! See? Nothing happened. Nothing happened? Everybody's okay? All right, tell you what, I'll raise the stakes a little bit. If there is a God, may he strike me dead. See? Nothing happened, oh, wait, I've got a little cramp in my leg. And my balls hurt. Plus, I'm blind. I'm blind, oh, now I'm okay again, must have been Joe Pesci, huh? God Bless Joe Pesci. Thank you all very much. Joe Bless You!
Compliments of Mr. George Carlin. RIP
Good riddance to bad rubbish. "El Raton" Ratzinger protected pedophiles in the ranks instead of protecting innocent children. That's a fact.
they need to have the drool rule, once a pope gets old enough that he can't sit up, stay awake, and not drool, its time to go
The drool rule from McCool!! Some friends were able to met this Pope last summer on a visit to the Vatican and they reported he was very drawn and fatigued when then had a chance to great him. I'm sure the activities of the Pope in the year 2013 has got to be more than most 85 year old people are really being up to. Your probably more accurate than you know.
In related news, we have just learned that the former Pope has accepted the position of ArchBishop of Canterbury
"They have way cooler surplices, AND you get to meet chicks!" explaine His Holiness in justifying the move.
Or maybe he saw what his taking the job did to his wonderful little home village, and the scandals of the church that he couldn't fix. Or the trouble that his own beliefs had trying to reconcile with the way the church is today, either way. If you aren't happy with a job, staying for someone else's sake is a mistake. I applaud him for being sensible and doing what he thought was best.Respect.
Hear. Hear!
It is admirable that he can recognize his own inability to perform his functions. I never saw the benefit to having a wasted pope, bedridden and disabled, hang on until death came calling.
Ex pope
Why doesn't the church elect younger men to the role of pope?
Because young men would be Pope at much longer and harder to dethrone. They are also more supportive to new ideas with new generations, something Vatican doesn't like with too much changes.
Why doesn't the curch elect minorities or allow women priests so that women could be pope? They want to centralize and concentrate their power.
bishpsaccountability.org "survivor's accounts"
hmmmmmmmmmmm..........I would love to see the first female pope. But what would you called her?
Perhaps.... Popette?
Pretty sad over all this so called disbelief in his resignation. He's over 80, he's old and fragile, let him retire already and get over it.
Johnathan Reid-1158169
The decision of who is to be the next pope, is made from a group known as cardinals. They meet together and write down on pieces of paper who they believe should be the pope. When all agree, that person is the next pope. The men pray to try to choose who they feel it is God's will to guide the Church. Names are read off, for who has been chosen with the most. Each day a vote is taken. Afterward if they don't all agree, they discuss things, and then the next day vote.
Cyphers-(get over it)
You obviously don't comprehend the relationship and love these faithful followers have for their Pope. Otherwise you would know they have a great affection and reverence for this spiritual leader. Someone they have looked up to as a father figure since 2005.To help inspire them to be more faithful and obedient in following the commandments of Jesus Christ. I am sure this means very little to anyone who probably doesn't care about living their life with an accountability to God and doing their best to live each day faithful to this religion.
Experience has shown, those who most often dismiss religion, condemning believers in it, for being hypocritical, or believing in a God, they don't think exists, forget, religion is meant to be a scaffolding, and teaching tool for eternal principals. Not meant for perfect beings.So judging people based on the religious itself is wrong. But to inspire and guide imperfect beings to great growth and refine the soul. Creating a new standard of humanity. Allowing one to improve themselves, if they so choose. So, for these people. losing their pope, is personal.
You took the time to read and comment while putting down others for being surprised. Don't you realize how long people are living now? How many men are staying quite active even into their late 90's? and into their 100's even? So 85 isn't as old as you think it is anymore. Not with all that modern medicine has been doing for people. Allow folks the right to express their own feelings.They just found out after all. Just as you expressed yours.
There in disbelief because they are about to lose a leader that is tolerant for all the child sexual abuse that goes on with all their priest, nothing more.
If you are loyal to this pope, if you revere this pope, you support pedophilia. You are as guilty as he is. Roman catholics, stop believing their lies, break out of your brainwashing, leave this organization.
bishopsaccountability.org "survivor's accounts"
". . . brevity is the soul of wit, and tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes . . ." - Shakespeare, Hamlet.
The Pope is but a "man", whose church has "walls".
The pope is a criminal whose church supported him in protecting pedophiles and then relocating them to fresh victims over and over and over again. He has ruined more lives than he has "enlightened". In aligning himself with criminals, he has made his public life a lie and a farce.
bishopsaccountability.org "survivor's accounts"
I believe this world would be a better place if we were all inspired to "be more faithful and obedient" to our conscience and our fellow man than "the commandments of Jesus Christ" ... and live our lives with an accountability to what is decent and right, not "with an accountability to God." Too many people today believe their "God" will forgive them of anything they might do or say, hence, rape, theft, lying - and even murder - is considered OK, for their God loves them and will forgive them once they die and go to heaven. Why is it that so many "lifers" in prison turn to religion?
Popes, politicians, educators, etc should be required to 'retire' at a certain age, no matter how physically or mentally competent they may appear - as evolution of thought begins to become impossible; new ideas are not readily accepted; and an attitude of superiority begins to evolve. The longer "one person" stays in any office, the more he or she becomes like a dictator ... no matter how likeable or intelligent they are. The Pope is a mere mortal, and as such, should know and accept his limitations. I think it takes a smart person to know when it's his or her time to step down and let a more capable person take the reins.
This man just wants to get his name into the history books.....As only the second pope to renounce the papacy in its history , is guaranteed to do so....and the other one did it because a political situation....not because he was "tired"....jejejejejeje
The Pope stepping down! Isn't this a little bit like giving up on God?
One GREAT thing,.....the media will be leaving this little town alone now.
I'm thinking there's something else behind this. Wait and see.
WTF, resign? I thought they were supposed to die for the cause, where would they be if Jesus, had resigned.
This Pope is being forced out. What's the surprise? Liberal socialist have been planning for years and years to infiltrate the Vatican and transform the Catholic Religion. There will be a battle but in the end good will win over evil. We are seeing everything written transform before our eyes. Yes it is happening!
oh cut it with the big shock & dismay already
He's 85- it's time to step down and let someone else younger to come in and do the job. He's just being realistic.
Looks like guilt finally got the best of him...
Ratzinger, pedophile protector and Nazi, is going into the history books as a simple caretaker. His predecessor, JP2, has also gone. Perhaps the last Pope that really wanted to change the Catholic Church was JP1. But then he only lasted a very short time, suspected of being assassinated. I really wonder why he went so quickly?
Assassination is as old as time of people who lead, the United States has a fine history of it as well as the Catholic Church. Perhaps he knew that he was going to go the way of JP1. Or, perhaps, his history was catching up with him.
Either way, whatever possessed him to resign is a good thing. No longer hiding behind the skirts of a person who condoned so much evil might transform that religious institution into something that will actually do good. It seems that only the Nuns, unable to say mass, baptize, or anything real within the institution, actually do people any good. Elect a Nun. That might be a good start. After all, if history is any guide, Mary Magdelene was one of Jesus' closest followers and many believe his closest confidant.
I wonder what either of them would think of the Catholics today. Not much I would think.
Honestly who truly gives a sh*t about the old Poop and the child molesting fakes
Some people can't bend over far enough to be victims and they'll force their children too !
Is it just a coincidence that one of the biggest obstacles to Obamacare is the Catholic churches stand on planned parenthood? Now we have a Pope unexpectedly resign, something that hasn't happened for over 800 yrs, in an environment where the USA will have significant impact on the election of the new Pope. I agree with Tray117, there IS something else behind this, wait and see. I guess since our president couldn't use his "Executive Order" process to fix the problem, he figured out a way to make him resign. We should be thankful the Pope was given the option to walk away instead of something more sinister.
Wow, every time I think the Obama haters can't get any more loopy, y'all throw out an even crazier conspiracy (Sandy Hook didn't happen, gun activists are being assassinated, he's signing away our sovereignty to the U.N., etc.). You actually believe Obama could "force" the Pope to resign? Looks like you picked the wrong day to stop sniffin' glue.
In related news, His Holiness has revealed that he has accepted the position as Archbishop of Canterbury.
"They have way cooler surplices, and they allow WOMEN! I can hardly wait." he is quoted as saying by way of explanation.
He ain’t no Pope John Paul II. He was a vegetable at the end. That’s the point!
The pope's home town is a little town in Nazi Germany, a fitting birth place for such a prominent cult leader.
We are poop, and the media loves the stench ! We were poop, and now the media will go hungry !
His home town folks are in disbelief? They believe in the invisible man in the clouds, but they don't believe the real, living, breathing man who say he's retiring?