So, whats up with the Pope then?

[KentPhilip]

Someone has already kicked off with a few suggestions

(Just to lower the tone, like)

From that link:



And: Pope Benedict is an anagram of: Epic Bent Pedo. Why am I not surprised..

[mudskipper]

I expect he remembers JPII being held up to the window and having his hand waved for him like a marionette and wants to spare himself that indignity.

[xoggoth]

Can you imagine a PM or president carrying on into their dotage like previous popes? People in other jobs actually do need their mental faculties to do them effectively. But in religion, what difference does it make?

"A Theologian is a blind man in a dark room searching for a black cat that is not there--and finding it."
H L Mencken

[EternalOptimist]

To be fair, he's always looked a bit rough, ever since he got the job. Maybe the next pope should be a younger man


in fact, how old was Peter when he got the inaugral role ? maybe we should be looking for a 40 year old trawler skipper.

Anyways, have a nice rest you old buffer

[Doggy Styles]

Has Dodgy put the ad up on Jobserve yet?

[d000hg]

Can you imagine a PM or president carrying on into their dotage like previous popes?

Isn't it rather common for national leaders to rule until death in many parts of the world... it certainly used to be practically the norm pre-democracy. I'm not saying it's a better system, only that it is not at all an unusual system.

[KentPhilip]

The jokes have started to come out now (courtesy of sickipedia.org):

Pope Resigns.
Like a true Catholic - he pulls out early..

The Pope is resigning. He will soon be known as an Ex-Benedict.

News just in: Officers from Operation Yewtree spotted at Vatican.

What will the Pope do now he's retired?
More kids, probably.

The Pope is resigning because he lacks the strength to do the job.
In other words, an alter boy fought him off..

BBC Sport: Pope Benedict XVI leaves the Vatican City for Vatican United.

If you're the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God............. who do you hand your letter of resignation to?

Tony Blair is going to become the next pope!

(sorry - made the last one up!)

[Mich the Tester]

If you're the Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God............. who do you hand your letter of resignation to?

More to the point; who signs his timesheet and will he get paid for a broken month mid-contract?

[TestMangler]

More to the point; who signs his timesheet and will he get paid for a broken month mid-contract?

If he expects to get a signed timesheet for that, then he's not cut out for pontiff-ing.

Thats popery, he should accept it and move on. Bloody disguised perma-pope.

[mudskipper]

They've just been talking about 'next pope' on the news - favourite is a Ghanaian - has there ever been a black pope before?