Pope Benedict resigns -- Francis I elected [update]

[JRM]

Last time was Gregory XII in 1415. It's interesting to note that the first papal resignation was also Pope Benedict (IX in 1045).

========
Pope Benedict XVI in shock resignation

Pope Benedict XVI is to resign at the end of this month after nearly eight years as the head of the Catholic Church, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.

The unexpected development - the first papal resignation in nearly 600 years - surprised governments, Vatican-watchers and even his closest aides.

The Vatican says it expects a new Pope to be elected before Easter.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304

[Marlow]

Pope Benedict XVI is to resign, saying he is too old to continue at the age of 85.

Good for him!! Some popes stayed past their 'use by' date.

[gh]

what do you call a pope who resigns?

ex-Benedict

[JRM]

what do you call a pope who resigns?

ex-Benedict

Boooooooo

[jeremyp]

what do you call a pope who resigns?

ex-Benedict

Whoever came up with this should be granted a week's leave. It was not punny!

[jeremyp]

What do you call a Pope who turns his back on his church?

Benedict Arnold.

[gh]

quickly added to my Facebook page (with no credit to you, of course )

[kuha]

And one who runs away from his duties? Legs Benedict.

[Marlow]

And one who runs away from his duties? Legs Benedict.

I'lll shoot this in the head with the question: What was the headline when Rochester's boss was almost made pope but then got screwed out of it?

B***Y D***ED

[lonewolf]

This is like one of DoubleRs birthday quizzes.

First we have to guess, WTF is Rochester?

[BruceFlorman]

First we have to guess, WTF is Rochester?

I imagine he's Eddie Anderson -- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Anderson_(comedian)

[tandfman]

B***Y D***ED

Benny Dissed?

[jeremyp]

What do you call a Pope with a pacemaker? Benetick, tick, tick.

[tandfman]

News flash from The Onion:

http://www.theonion.com/articles/pope-a ... c-t,31255/

VATICAN CITY—Just hours after announcing his resignation from the papacy Monday, Pope Benedict XVI confirmed that he had accepted a lucrative senior analyst position at a New York–based Catholic think tank

[Marlow]

B***Y D***ED

Benny Dissed?

Noooooo. Say it out loud: Benny Dicked!

[cullman]

Pope Benedict only ranks #170 on Deadspin's All-Time Pope Rankings.

http://deadspin.com/5983495/popes-ranke ... socialflow

LeGoff2901 : "Alexander VI at 261 is a joke."

[Per Andersen]

Pope Benedict only ranks #170 on Deadspin's All-Time Pope Rankings.

http://deadspin.com/5983495/popes-ranke ... socialflow

LeGoff2901 : "Alexander VI at 261 is a joke."

A Canadian might be the next pope. Bishop Ouellet from Montreal. Maybe that "Own the podium" program really works . Oellet is another reactionary like the rest of them. Benedict selected most of the bishops who can vote. Grim outlook. They have come a long way from Vatican 11.

From what I gather the bishop of Milan (name escapes me now) is considered a near moderate.
The betting is for Bishop Turkson from Ghana.

[tandfman]

God's reaction to the news?

http://www.news.com.au/world/a-sign-fro ... 6576196463

[Marlow]

God's reaction to the news?
http://www.news.com.au/world/a-sign-fro ... 6576196463

Jon Stewart's usual irreverent response was along these lines: "He can do that?! I thought he had that gig until he was . . uh . . . called to go back to . . . the Home Office."

When told the Pope wanted to now spend his time reading and praying, JS says - isn't that what he's doing now?

[Friar]

I'm buying into the explanation that Benedict saw JP II struggle through the last few years of life and he said 'not me.'
It's pretty radical-- as well as odd-- that the biggest change in Papal history turns out to deal with retirement.

[Mighty Favog]

My one-liner was "hey, that guy is giving up a LOT for Lent."

[gh]

a pretty harsh (and detailed) look at Benedict from The New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/j ... aster.html

[Halfmiler2]

I am shocked that a columnist who favors liberation theology and quotes Hans Kung doesn't think much of Pope Benedict.

[JRM]

New Pope is chosen: Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio will become Francis I. He is the first South American to hold the "office" (?), as well as the first Jesuit.

He should not be confused with Francis 7 from Logan's Run:

http://www.ship-star.com/lo01.jpg

[bijanc]

Logical transition. Buenos Aires has more Italians than Providence, Newark, and Florence combined. But seriously- a pope of Latin American descent has been forecast since the last vacancy in the papacy.

[gh]

when's the last time a new papa was creative enough to go with a name that earned him a "I" ?

[mcgato]

I think that I read that he was the third Francis as pope, thus he should be Francis III.

For the last original, look no further than John Paul I.

edit: looks like I was misinformed, and he is the first Francis. Someone cue the scene from Stripes. Oh dang it, I will:
Psycho: The name's Francis Soyer, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Francis, and I'll kill you.
Leon: Ooooooh.
Psycho: You just made the list, buddy. And I don't like nobody touching my stuff. So just keep your meat-hooks off. If I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I'll kill you. Also, I don't like nobody touching me. Now, any of you homos touch me, and I'll kill you.
Sergeant Hulka: Lighten up, Francis.

[Conor Dary]

when's the last time a new papa was creative enough to go with a name that earned him a "I" ?

JP I, who had a rather short time as pope. And murdered in Godfather III.

[dj]

when's the last time a new papa was creative enough to go with a name that earned him a "I" ?

JP I, who had a rather short time as pope. And murdered in Godfather III.

JP I was elected in 1978. But that was a bit of a cheat as his was the combination of two popular names, John (23 of them) and Paul (6), who were JP's predecessors.

Before that, you go back to 913, when Pope Lando was selected. His name was so unusual that it was never again used.

[Conor Dary]

when's the last time a new papa was creative enough to go with a name that earned him a "I" ?

JP I, who had a rather short time as pope. And murdered in Godfather III.

JP I was elected in 1978. But that was a bit of a cheat as his was the combination of two popular names, John (23 of them) and Paul (6), who were JP's predecessors.

Before that, you go back to 913, when Pope Lando was selected. His name was so unusual that it was never again used.

A cheat! This must be a first for dj who usually is above slanderous behavior.
But I stand corrected.

Wasn't Lando a Bond villain in, maybe, Thunderball?

[Pego]

when's the last time a new papa was creative enough to go with a name that earned him a "I" ?

JP I, who had a rather short time as pope. And murdered in Godfather III.

JP I was elected in 1978. But that was a bit of a cheat as his was the combination of two popular names, John (23 of them) and Paul (6), who were JP's predecessors.

Before that, you go back to 913, when Pope Lando was selected. His name was so unusual that it was never again used.

Wasn't Lando a Bond villain in Thunderball?

That was Largo. Lando was Han Solo's friend in The empire strikes back.

[Conor Dary]

That was Largo. Lando was Han Solo's friend in The empire strikes back.

Yes, that is right. Thanks for the update.

[gh]

Not to be confused with Londo Mollari, the devious Centauri from Babylon 5.

[lonewolf]

Or, Michael Landon, aka Little Joe Cartright of Bonanza.former javelin HSR holder, 193-4. (1954)

[Master Po]

Or, Michael Landon, aka Little Joe Cartright of Bonanza.former javelin HSR holder, 193-4. (1954)

Not to take this thread off in a new direction, but -- well, now that we've met the new Pope, perhaps that's settled for a while -- so...I never knew Little Joe was a javelin thrower! Hoss must have been a pretty good thrower, too, or at least could have been one. I never realized that Bonanza was a track & field show...for all this time, I thought it was about modern pentathlon.