• Home
  • News
    • Politics / Govt
    • Legislature
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Archives
  • Sports
    • Badgers
    • Packers
      • Titletown Report
    • Brewers
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / News / Pope is pooped

Pope is pooped

February 11, 2013 By Jackie Johnson

The Pope takes his leave from the papacy, due to his advancing age and ailing health.

Pope Benedict XVI is the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. William Thorn, PhD, is associate professor of journalism at Marquette University. He’s been working with the Vatican since 1982, and was near the Pope as recently as December. “I was more than surprised, I was shocked. I had no inkling, nor did any of the people I know or any of the press I know in Rome, that any idea this was coming. Apparently he talked to no one about this except his brother George.”

His Holiness made the surprise resignation announcement early Monday morning, just days before Ash Wednesday. Pope Benedict is very Germanic, Thorn says, with a high sense of duty, but knows the limits of his health. Thorn says the Pope has severe arthritis in his knees and was told my his doctor he can’t fly, which is very important in this 21st century international job.

The Vatican believes it will have a new pope installed by Easter. “To have Easter without the pope I think would really be difficult.”

Popes generally die in office, but 85-year-old Benedict is the first pontiff to step down since Gregory XII in 1415. Benedict will resign February 28th. A conclave is expected to name the new pontiff before the end of March.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:22

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News



Featured Stories

Senate Republicans shut down debate on conversion therapy in Wisconsin

UW Madison based Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center receives funding renewal

Secretary of State La Follette resigns from office, Godlewski named as replacement

Republican proposal to alter 1849 abortion statute won’t advance in Senate

Protasiewicz and Kelly advance in Wisconsin Supreme Court primary

TwitterFacebook

Sports Headlines

Evers’ AmFam funding plan ‘a nonstarter’ with Assembly Republicans

New pitch clock could speed up MLB games this season, says UW expert

Giannis breaks franchise scoring record, Bucks beat Nets in OT

Wisconsin’s Davis declares for NBA Draft

Badgers to face Arizona State in Las Vegas Bowl

More Sports

Tweets by @WRN

Get our news delivered to your inbox:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC