Pope Benedict XVI resigns

[Ja Rhule]

Wow... Last time this happened over 600 years ago.

[Darth Biscuit]

Surprised there wasn't a thread on here already...

I have no idea... is this a big deal for American Catholics?

[Floppin]

This has more to it than just "declining health". A Pope hasn't resigned since the fuging middle ages. Every Pope declines in health and dies in office.

Regardless, we will get to see three popes in under a decade. There are many generations that didn't see three popes in a lifetime.

[Ja Rhule]

I'm going through conversion to become a catholic right now. Imaging if president of the US announce that he's quitting.

[Floppin]

I'm going through conversion to become a catholic right now. Imaging if president of the US announce that he's quitting.

It's happened more recently than the Pope resigning.

[Ja Rhule]

Well yeah. But its just an example. There are over 1 billion catholics that wonder what just happened...

[Dpantherman]

First thing that ran through my mind was that there was more to it. Yea hes old, but first time in 600 years? idk. Then again I'm not a Catholic and I have no idea how any of that stuff works.

[Carolina Husker]

[thatlookseasy]

New pope, you know what that means- time for the betting lines.

http://www.paddypower.com/bet/novelty-betting/current-affairs/pope-betting?ev_oc_grp_ids=1178744&AFF_ID=3409

11/4 Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson (Ghana)

3/1 Cardinal Marc Ouellet (Canada)

4/1 Cardinal Francis Arinze (NIgeria)

Dude from Ghana was the favorite last time I believe, though to be honest any of the 3 current favorites would be crazy (a canadian or african pope?)

Richard Dawkins also a big underdog at 666/1 :D

[Carolina Husker]

[thefuzz]

I'm very curious what all went down.

[Floppin]

Wow... Last time this happened over 600 years ago.

Pope Celestine V exercised his right to abdicate in 1294. So 719 years, to be exact.

[SCP]

So do Catholics get a free pass now until they replace this guy?

[Mrs Pantherfan]

This totally reminded me that I need to catch up on The Borgias