I'm fascinated by the news that the Pope is resigning. I've been Catholic all my life and this is not something I've experienced before nor has anyone else in the last 600 or so years. The last time a Papal conclave was held, I was glued to the television waiting for whatever color smoke meant that the Cardinals had chosen a Pope. Only last time, Pope John Paul had passed away. This time it's slightly different and I just keep pondering new questions.
Why exactly is he stepping down? And why now just as Lent is starting?
Where does the Pope go when he's no longer the Pope? Does he get kicked out of the Vatican like the President gets kicked out of the White House when his term is complete?
What exactly do you call a former Pope? Will he still be Pope Benedict much like our previous presidents are always called Mr. President? (I'm certain it won't be Ex-Benedict like the Huffington Post posited this morning, though major props to whomever dreamed up that headline...)
What happens to the Papal Twitter account that made international news just a few months ago? Will it be handed down to the next Pope? Or will the next Pope get a Twitter handle of his own?
Will the Vatican name a library after him like they do with ex-presidents?
Can he take the Pope-mobile with him? After all, if he's anything like ex-presidents he'll be playing a lot of golf...
And most importantly what does that mean for us as Catholics? I've not hidden the fact that I think the Catholic church needs to make changes for the better. In a lot of ways the church is still living in the dark ages. With such a conservative as Pope Benedict resigning, will the Cardinals make a bold choice and choose a more progressive Pope or will they continue on in their ultra-conservative ways?
Regardless, I hope that his resignation is truly because of age and not because of any illness. And I wish him, as I'm sure most of my fellow Catholics do as well, a restful and relaxing retirement.
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