Pope Benedict XVI has resigned from the papacy, declaring himself too old and too decrepit for the job. Which is a brave admission, but hardly a surprising one for an 85-year-old man to make.
It was clearly a shock to everybody except those at the highest echelons of the Catholic Church that Pope Benedict XVI was retiring. In doing so he became to first to give up the position for 600 years.
However, it’s a strange decision to always put the most elderly people in charge. They have to travel around the world and work tirelessly, so it’s not befitting of an older person.
God made his feelings known on the resignation, as can be seen by lightning striking St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City hours after it was announced. It probably wasn’t God, but it makes a compelling story.
