CNN just reported on-air.

The first time a pope has stepped down since 1415!

that's more than a full time job.

Really. What else does he actually do?

and get to Rome, perhaps. Once he's made the decision to go, and make it public, I can see it'd be better to move the process along rapidly.

to keep track of her angst. Others may keep notes on their doings and feelings, but usually call it a journal, not a diary. Both are generally used to record things after the fact.

To record appointments in the future, Americans commonly use what we call a calendar, also known as a date book (but that's most often a hard-copy becoming obsolete due to digital version--never, it seems, called a date book), or, as you said, a schedule.

I'm a sucker for any British accent and have always been fascinated by British vs American English, so, please excuse my geek.

Since that won't kill you right away(assuming this is what the Holy Father was told)it raised the possibility of Benedict hanging on in an incapacitated state for weeks, months, perhaps years. He'd have decide that this would put the Church in an intolerable situation.

That my theory, in any case.

but the church has always carried on in such circumstances.

This is odd.

may have played a role here. In similar situations in the past, it would always have been clear that an incapacitated pontiff would only live for a short while in any case(then again, until the last couple of centuries, most people didn't live all that long, as far as that goes).

Still, this is a bit of historical weirdness none of us expected.

My first reaction was that a scandal is coming. But maybe I'm just a natural cynic.

Just had a friend die from that last year. Her docs told her family it would be like Alzheimer's on steroids. In 2 years she went from being an active genetic counselor, then to early stages of dementia, to being noncommunicative and totally bedridden. She died about month after her 2yr diagnosis. The Alzheimer's drugs that slow the progress of the disease don't have any effect on Pick's.

or maybe cancer.

Either way, I figure it's something that could linger but will cause death.

"He said that the Pope was not stepping down because of any specific illness. Depression or uncertainty were ruled out as causes for the resignation.
The announcement was "a bolt from the blue", said Angelo Sodano, a senior Vatican cardinal. The news apparently came as a surprise, even to the Pope's close aides."

Further on in the article it mentions that his doctor told him to avoid transatlantic travel. Apparently he has a heart condition.

for his rapist-priests.

Their victims just need a lesson in forgiveness. It takes a tough-minded person to stand up to that whiny bunch.

Perhaps he (and/or his advisors) felt it best to get out of the way before that, if it's something serious that would prevent him from doing all that he's expected to.

Easter is huge in the Church and the whole world looks to Rome, even non-Catholics. He'd be out there front and center. And there's nobody who can stand in for a pope.

HELL, we had to watch that John Paul character die in front of us for years. But this Beenadick fool is quitting? I wonder if he knows his cover-up of child rapist could be getting ready to go public??

Maybe there is a push from within to get rid of the Pope?

I am sure this will turn into a reality show via every news agency on the planet like last time.

but if it's true that would be HUGE news!

Keep the old man's club puffin' away.

NBC4 (Washington, D. C.) just reported that the Vatican has confirmed Benedict will resign on the 28th. Benedict says he doesn't have the strength to continue anymore.

"Benedict says he doesn't have the strength to continue anymore."

Just when things were getting interesting...they just got more interesting.

Looks like dementia

Seriously.

I'd like to see an African Pope.

Not that it matters to me personally but I'd like to see the reaction of certain people I know.

From what I've heard, some of the African cardinals are even more reactionary than Benedict.

By saying that I don't care who gets the job. Since I'm an agnostic, non-theistic evolutionist I don't care if he wants to bring back the inquisition. I just want a black Pope.

One is a Ghanaian cardinal named Peter Turkson. The other, a cardinal from Nigeria, is Francis Arinze. Both are considered to be extremely conservative. Benny Boy packed the College of Cardinals with as many like-minded clones of himself as he could find over the last 7 or so years.

followed by a Canadian and a Nigerian.

"He who enters the conclave as a frontrunner comes out as a cardinal."

(Mentioned by CNN's Vatican correspondent this morning.)

you think "we" aren't in total control?

Not the whole GOP sceme of things, but I recall last time around that the church was considering someone from Latin America, which is perhaps the Catholic Church's strongest hotbed.

*ducks*

It's better than a novel when shit like this happens.

sorry, i couldn't resist.