2012-01-09     Will Pope Benedict retire?

A few months ago this article discussed the pope's views about retiring.
The date mentioned in the article is April 2012, when Benedict turns 85

Yesterday David Timbs pointed out there are end-times signs in Benedict's papacy
- see "The Cardinals"

All of which is causing me to have the same thought/hope as this time last year:
at the coming consistory, Feb 18-19, Benedict will announce his resignation
and, since the whole team is in town,
call for an immediate election of a new pope

With an obvious fear:  Background Benedict will be a Deng Xiaoping
orchestrating not only the choice of his successor
but also that successor's programs

Also...David's article made me think that as Benedict runs down,
others (read Cardinal Levada) will take over the day to day running of the Vatican
...just as one Cardinal Ratzinger called the shots when JPII was in decline

Two bottom lines:
1. Compulsory retirement of pope at 75  (...and no one 75 or over eligible for the papacy)
2. Let's increase our prayers that the Good Lord will bless the Church with a new pope
who follows the vision of Vatican 2.  As I keep saying, my way of such prayer is a load of rubbish!

John W