source: tumblr
Story via Huffington Post
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI announced Monday that he would resign on Feb. 28 because he was simply too infirm to carry on — the first pontiff to do so in nearly 600 years. The decision sets the stage for a conclave to elect a new pope before the end of March.
The 85-year-old pope announced his decision in Latin during a meeting of Vatican cardinals on Monday morning.
He emphasized that carrying out the duties of being pope — the leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics worldwide — requires "both strength of mind and body."
. . . The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 in a deal to end the Great Western Schism among competing papal claimants.
The Pope is hardly the first person to lose interest in their real job so soon after joining Twitter.
— Sixth Form Poet (@sixthformpoet) February 11, 2013
The pope's resigning to spend more time with his wife and kids.
— Tom McLaughlin (@_TomMcLaughlin) February 11, 2013
No matter who the next pope is, it's my humble prayer that he refer to himself as "The Real Master P."
— Ben Lepley (@whitebathrobe) February 11, 2013
Oprah should be the new Pope. We shall call her 'Poprah'. twitter.com/_itsbennett/st…
— matt (@_itsbennett) February 11, 2013
Woke up this morning to Ex-Benedict. #popejokes
— Andrew Kane (@codemastermm) February 11, 2013
The Pope is going on extended hollandaise #ExBenedict
— Ryan Sheales (@RyanSheales) February 11, 2013
Pope Benedict is resigning to join the Hitler Elderly.
— Warren Holstein (@WarrenHolstein) February 11, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI is stepping down so he can dedicate himself full-time to his night job: twitter.com/DCdebbie/statu…
— DC Debbie (@DCdebbie) February 11, 2013
In a total misunderstanding of the problem, Jamie Lee Curtis sends the Pope a case of Activia. "No, I said I can't POPE anymore."
— Christopher Moore (@TheAuthorGuy) February 11, 2013
Dick Morris has predicted Mitt Romney will be the next Pope by 12 points
— United Liberals (@UnitedLiberals) February 11, 2013
Breaking: Lindsey Graham has put a hold on the Pope's replacement.
— Arianna Huffington (@ariannahuff) February 11, 2013
BREAKING: Rick Santorum announces he is "running for the seat vacated by Pope Benedict XVI. I hope I can count on your vote."
— Top Conservative Cat (@TeaPartyCat) February 11, 2013
Rick Santorum for Pope campaign posters are already up: twitter.com/JimRegular/sta… (via @jimregular)
— Top Conservative Cat (@TeaPartyCat) February 11, 2013
Early favorites to succeed Pope Benedict: Cardinal Ximinez, Cardinal Biggles, Cardinal Fang #EverybodyExpectsTheSpanishInquisition
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 11, 2013
Leslie Knope for Pope. And President. Leslie Knope for all the things.
— Rebecca Schinsky (@RebeccaSchinsky) February 11, 2013
Just so we're all clear, Joe Biden has announced that he is not running for Pope. #ThankGod politico.com/politico44/201…
— Katie Johnson (@kjon) February 11, 2013
Your Papal account has been suspended.
— Simon Feilder (@simonfeilder) February 11, 2013
The streets are empty.Tumbleweed rolls by. A solemn bell tolls. Humanity huddles around glowing screens, desperately tapping out Pope Jokes.
— Scriblit (@Scriblit) February 11, 2013
It's the Popocalypse. Civilisation has ground to a halt. There's nothing left now except the jokes Facebook will pick up around Thursdayish.
— Scriblit (@Scriblit) February 11, 2013
From the Catholics I know, they must see the pope trending & wearily sigh 'what has he done now?' like getting a call about a racist uncle.
— Scriblit (@Scriblit) February 11, 2013
Goodbye Vatican's Rose / may you ever glare into our hearts / with those haunted eyes / and your funny shiny hat
— Scriblit (@Scriblit) February 11, 2013
AND IT SEEMED TO ME YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE LIKE A SEXIST IN THE WIND / NEVER KNOWING WHO TO TELL MODERNITY WAS A SIN
— Scriblit (@Scriblit) February 11, 2013
3 days after Popocalypse.Survivors shuffle into the streets. 'How long were we out? Wait, we're at war with China now?When did that happen?'
— Scriblit (@Scriblit) February 11, 2013
