Pope resigns

[Suff]

I really really have no interest whatsoever about this and to be honest I am surprised so many have. If you are a practising Catholic then obviously it is important, but why should I be interested?

Because the Vatican is the oldest and most continuous state in the world, having one consistent administration (even during the schism of the popes), for nearly 2,000 years.

Because the Pope is the spiritual leader of 1.2 Billion people and has great influence over them. More than any single sect of any other religion, including Islam.

Because the Pope has a significant impact on events in the world. The pope is actually more important than Obama or Cameron or many other "political" leaders.

Religious or not, the outcome of this very unusual event will change and shape the world we live it. It's worth knowing about and understanding even if you are not a believer. Of course, like many in the secular world, we can just ignore it and let it all go on by. But then we will be shaped by events we know nothing about and, therefore, cannot anticipate. Just like people who don't vote.

Personally I might occasionally be flippant about the RC religion, but I try not to offend. Devout people are honestly hurt by this much more than a black person having the N word used on them with intent and malice. It is all so easy to forget that someone who has a devout faith is as strongly attached to that faith as someone who's skin colour and upbringing are different.

Something I, personally, find very annoying. The extreme amount of time and hot air spent on "equality" and "multiculturalism" allied to the extreme ignorance of our own cultures, often makes me quite irate.

In short, in case I didn't make my point clearly enough.

The pope is important to everybody, Christian, Catholic, Moselem, Jew, Secular or other. End of Story.

[Aggers]

I fully agree with Suff's post.

Although I am not a Catholic, I do recognise that the Pope is probably the most important and influential person on this planet.

I also think that it is unbecoming to make disrespectful comments about other people's religious beliefs.

[miasmum]

I am sorry then I must be a complete ignoramus. I have managed 49 years with no interest whatsoever in the pope and I am sure I can manage a few more.

I have not been disrespectful. I completely understand that as practising Catholic this would matter to me, but as a complete non religious person I fail to see it makes any difference.

[Kaz]

Perhaps to practising Catholics this is of significance, but living in a C of E country that is becoming increasingly secular I don't feel it is of significance to me personally, or to many of us...................

I don't see any deliberately offensive comments on this thread BTW

[Lozzles]

Religious or not, the outcome of this very unusual event will change and shape the world we live it. It's worth knowing about and understanding even if you are not a believer. Of course, like many in the secular world, we can just ignore it and let it all go on by. But then we will be shaped by events we know nothing about and, therefore, cannot anticipate. Just like people who don't vote.

Personally I might occasionally be flippant about the RC religion, but I try not to offend. Devout people are honestly hurt by this much more than a black person having the N word used on them with intent and malice. It is all so easy to forget that someone who has a devout faith is as strongly attached to that faith as someone who's skin colour and upbringing are different.

I don't think anyone has cause offence on this thread, but batting away comments about the Pope or the Catholic church comes with the territory really.

Suff is right though in my opinion. Whether or not you are religious, the next pope can make changes (or not) which will influence the whole world and not just to the last few Catholics left in this country.

Just as an example, it won't be long until priests will be allowed to marry. Already there is a married Catholic priest in my mum's church. He was married when he chose to become a priest, so the next step is not so huge.

I understand there is a lot of bad feeling towards the Pope and the teachings of the Church, I am unhappy with quite a few of them myself, but hopefully more changes will come in time.

As to faith, well, it is what it is. No comments about my faith are going to change it. Accept me for who I am or leave me be, it isn't something I am going to change. That isn't a comment to anyone here by the way, just a general statement

[meriad]

I was brought up catholic but much to my mom's despair none of us five children are practising Catholics. So whilst I do agree the next pope will be a hugely influential person in so many ways I also don't think it will have much, if any little impact on me who eventually is chosen.

However, the two things I would really like to see changed in the catholic church is their stance on birth control and - Lozz you've already mentioned this - allowing priests to marry. It may be a pretty simplistic view on a very difficult subject, but I honestly believe that much of the abuse that went on in the church would not have happened had priests been allowed to marry.

And for these changes to be made they need to ensure whoever is elected as the next pope is progressive and most importantly willing and able to upset the apple cart that is the current institution.

[Suff]

I don't see any deliberately offensive comments on this thread BTW

Neither do I. But in our current "pink frilly skirt", precious country, I find that what we take to be off hand flippant comments are fully accepted when it comes to the Christian faith but totally unacceptable when it comes to other faiths or creeds.

A point I was making rather than a dig at anyone here. I doubt that anyone would willingly hurt anyone else on this board just because they didn't care. I find we all care about everyone here which is one of the reasons I like it so much.

[Suff]

I am sorry then I must be a complete ignoramus. I have managed 49 years with no interest whatsoever in the pope and I am sure I can manage a few more.

True, but on the other hand you should accept that many who do care (religous or not), will both want to know and to discuss it.

Just because you don't care does not mean it will not be of very great interest to others. I, for one, simply can't understand the absolute mania about football. Can't stand it myself and avoid all conversation about it unless it's World Cup time, much to my colleagues wonderment.

Although, on the other hand, your opinion is totally valid and we should all accept that. I just find I can't live my life in that kind of information vacuum. I've lived there and my life was a constant voyage of everyone else knowing more than I did. I decided that this was not the way I wanted to continue my life....

[miasmum]

but Suff I am happy for everyone else to discuss it, my question was why should I be interested? Nothing anyone has said has made me think I should be, so I am happy to butt out and have no more involvement.

I don't live in a vacuum, but on this point I am happy too

[Oojamaflip]

Because the Vatican is the oldest and most continuous state in the world, having one consistent administration (even during the schism of the popes), for nearly 2,000 years.

Because the Pope is the spiritual leader of 1.2 Billion people and has great influence over them. More than any single sect of any other religion, including Islam.

Because the Pope has a significant impact on events in the world. The pope is actually more important than Obama or Cameron or many other "political" leaders.

Suff, you knows I love you but I don't agree with those assertions, not to the level of importance you've put on them. 'Just because' still does not mean that the majority of the world see the Pope with the same significance as you do. I'm not sure about your figures regarding Catholicism being larger than Islam, btw: Christianity as a whole maybe so.

Religious or not, the outcome of this very unusual event will change and shape the world we live it.

I don't believe it will, not to any significance to the vast majority of the world. IF the Pope finally rules that it's okay for Catholics to use birth control, it will be to the relief of a large portion of the female population and it will mean that girls some will no longer be forced to travel abroad to seek an abortion. Married priests? As has been said it's already allowed for those joining the priesthood and who are already married, so the next step would seem inevitable. But other than those two issues, I really cannot see how significant is the Pope to most of the world's population.

It's worth knowing about and understanding even if you are not a believer. Of course, like many in the secular world, we can just ignore it and let it all go on by. But then we will be shaped by events we know nothing about and, therefore, cannot anticipate. Just like people who don't vote.

I agree it's worth knowing if only from the point of view of 'general knowledge', but my life and those who are not Roman Catholic will not be shaped by the Catholic church any more than it's shaped by Islam.

Devout people are honestly hurt by this much more than a black person having the N word used on them with intent and malice. It is all so easy to forget that someone who has a devout faith is as strongly attached to that faith as someone who's skin colour and upbringing are different.

I strongly disagree!! You can choose a religion, you cannot choose your skin colour.

'Devout' people, if they are truly filled with the Holy Spirit know it's a waste of time to be 'hurt' by anti-religious attitudes and name-calling. God is bigger than all of that. If God is for them, who can be against them? To compare it with Racism is a non sequitur, and in itself could be seen as being offensive.

Something I, personally, find very annoying. The extreme amount of time and hot air spent on "equality" and "multiculturalism" allied to the extreme ignorance of our own cultures, often makes me quite irate.

Roman Catholicism is not my culture, and blimey, I'm even white English.

The pope is important to everybody, Christian, Catholic, Moselem, Jew, Secular or other. End of Story.

I don't agree. No he's not. He's part of history, maybe interesting if you're interested in that kind of thing. But he's just a man in a frock who happens to be highly significant within his particular organisation, and highly significant leader to the adherents of his particular religious movement. That's all.