The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI that he will resign on Feb. 28 shocked Catholics and non-Catholics alike. But after the conservatism of his papacy and that of his predecessor John Paul II, analysts say Benedict’s successor is unlikely to bring major change to a church shaken by scandal and declining faith.
In the crypt of the Washington Basilica, America's largest Roman Catholic church, Monsignor Vito Buonanno echoed the shock many Catholics felt over the first papal resignation in six centuries.
"We ask the Lord to steady us at this time of uncertainty," he said.
But Buonanno says he understands why Benedict XVI decided he no longer should be the leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics.
"This must have been a very difficult decision. And that I respect very much because I know this was something that was seriously thought over and prayed over," Buonanno said.
The pope did leave hints, says spokesman Don Clemmer of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"In April 2009, he visited the tomb of Pope Celestine V who resigned in the year 1294, one of the only popes ever to do so. Small symbolic things, but maybe hints, that this was on his mind," Clemmer said.
But the resignation comes as Evangelical Protestant churches are on the rise in the developing world and the Church is dealing with a corruption scandal involving the Pope's butler.
Benedict did take uprecedented steps against pedophile priests, says Clemmer.
"And as pope he’s met with victims in various countries around the world and also had sexual abuse of a child classified as one of the gravest crimes against the church," he said.
Some European commentators are suggesting that Benedict was pushed out because of those efforts.
Chester Gillis is a theology professor and dean of Georgetown College in Washington. He dismisses that theory.
"I do not think that he would have succumbed to some international or external pressure to resign. There’s been lots of pressure on every pope historically, and they’ve stayed around. So I think this was a deliberate choice on his part," Gillis said.
He says the legacy left by Benedict and John Paul II is an arch-conservative church out of step with many Roman Catholics.
"And if they get another really hardline conservative they may say, 'Okay, enough, I’m out.' And some conservatives would say, 'That’s fine we don’t need them,'" Gillis said.
Benedict himself does not officially have a vote over who will be his successor. But more than half the cardinals who do, were appointed by him.
Ron Johnson says there are some qualities he would welcome in the next pontiff.
"I hope the next pope is a lot like John Paul II - someone who is outgoing, who is energetic, who is bilingual. A person of color perhaps even," Johnson said.
Chelsea doctor and surfing in Australia 切尔西队医与球队和解,澳大利亚冲浪
World's longest tunnel and a strange kind of race 世界最长铁路隧道,扛羊毛袋比赛
Big Ben and gorilla surprise 维修大本钟,大猩猩生子
Axe to grind 别有用心
The last/final straw 忍无可忍,使人最终崩溃的一击
Clean up your act 改邪归正
California wildfires and cloned animals 加利福尼亚州野火,克隆动物衰老过程正常
Brexit and Hockney's art 英国脱欧公投后进展,大卫·霍克尼艺术展
Drama queen 小题大做的人
Cosmonaut anniversary and wallaby internet star 宇航员周年纪念日,小袋鼠轰动互联网
There's method to my madness 我有一个不合常理的办法
A bitter pill to swallow 不得不吞的苦药
You're pulling my leg! 你在愚弄我!
Russian athletes and friendly robots 俄罗斯运动员服用兴奋剂,“合作机器人”
Pain in the neck 令人讨厌的事情或人
Crash course 速成课
Indian state introduces 'fat tax' 印度一省拟征收“脂肪税”
Cyborg beetle and the teenage brain 半机械甲虫,青少年脑部发育
A recipe for disaster 后患无穷
Earth-like planet, Pink cockatoo dies at 83 类地行星,83岁风头鹦鹉逝世
Canada wildfire and NASA discovery 加拿大林火,美国国家航空航天局发现系外行星
White / blue-collar worker 白领,蓝领
One good turn deserves another 以德报德,礼尚往来
Test the water 试探,摸底
India's sewer workers and British school standards 印度下水道工人施工安全,英国在校生学习成绩下降
Cyclists make Olympic history, 400-year-old shark 英国自行车运动员创英奥运历史,400岁格陵兰鲨鱼
IOC on Russian doping and hot June 奥委会就涉俄兴奋剂事件报告进展,六月高温破纪录
Phelps makes history and marine species 菲尔普斯创造历史,海洋新物种
It's on the cards 这件事十有八九会发生
The university of life 生活经历
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