Quite a shock, I have been impressed by both those who are telling of his goodness, and how they will miss him.
And those looking for other reasons he is going.
Italians, a group not near all,are researching his past,in relation to support for other Priests actions.
What ever the reason it is an event that we have not seen for 1200 years.
What will be the out comes?
Maybe a new direction for Catholics, a new leader leading ?
A chance exists Pell would get the job, let us hope not.

Dear Belly,

It is quite a surprise as I had assumed that
Popes stay in the job until they die. This
goes against that tradition. I believe that
this is the first Pope who's resigned in 600 years.
Still, he did look very frail and I guess that if
he feels that he can't do the job properly because of
his ill health then it is the right decision to resign.

The Pope's resignation now gives the Church the
choice in selecting a new Pope to confront both
the difficulties and the opportunities that the Church
faces. Let us trust that the Vatican will be able to
do precisely that. Fingers-crossed that they will choose
someone of a less conservative ethos than our own
Cardinal Pell.

Belly,
You ask "What will be the out comes?"

The RC church will appoint a new Pope and just carry on, so very little or nothing will change. No big event really.

Those expecting any dramatic change will be dissappointed. Don't try to hold your breath.

Archy Pell to become Pope, the bookies have him at 50 to 1. Imagine Archy in the job, those odd can't be right, he would have to be a million to 1. Then again Ratzinger got the nod last time.
Anyway I don't give a rat's who's the big boy in Rome.

>>Imagine Archy in the job, those odd can't be right, he would have to be a million to 1.<<

That would put him at longer odds than Richard Dawkins and Father Jack Hackett - a fictional priest from the comedy show Father Ted.

I like the idea of Pell for Pope. He'll head off to Rome and we won't have to put up with him any more.

But my first choice would have to be Cthulhu for Pope.

Cheers,

Tony

maybe the three who knived Rudd might have some suggestions?