# Pope Emeritus Benedict passes away **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 31, 2022, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408 "2022-12-31T10:10:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/1 "2022-12-31T10:10:31Z")
> **[Former Pope Benedict XVI dies in Vatican monastery aged 95 | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/31/europe/pope-benedict-xvi-death-intl/index.html)** > > Pope Francis led tributes to his predecessor on Saturday, after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died in a monastery in the Vatican at the age of 95. RIP. Fun fact, he was Pope Emeritus longer than he was the actual pope. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/2 "2022-12-31T10:32:41Z")
One would imagine that if his god actually existed he would have to some _serious_ explaining to do. That’d be a conversation worth listening to. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/3 "2022-12-31T10:36:02Z")
I rather suspect he doesn’t get the opportunity to talk to the Big Guy, but went straight to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/4 "2022-12-31T10:42:12Z")
Rest in peace. I hope someone will write a short biography of him. I am interested in his life, but do not intend to wade through three volumes. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/5 "2022-12-31T12:35:22Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > One would imagine that if his god actually existed he would have to some _serious_ explaining to do. That’d be a conversation worth listening to. Either that or his god actually prefers things Benedict’s way. Human nature seems remarkably impervious to improvement. If one grants _arguendo_ the inherently silly notion of gods, intentional creation of humanity to a plan, popes, etc., one has to logically conclude that as awful as humanity is, and as badly as it collectively behaves, that’s what the god wanted. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/6 "2022-12-31T12:38:00Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Rest in peace. > > I hope someone will write a short biography of him. I am interested in his life, but do not intend to wade through three volumes. _The Economist_ is justly famous for their one-page biographical obituaries published every week. But only one per week. They now face the unenviable challenge of choosing between Pope Benedict & Barbara Walters. In terms of sustained long-term impact on the world, probably Walters. In terms of worldwide recognition and relevance, Benedict. Decisions. Decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/7 "2022-12-31T12:50:04Z")
I think I may give up my subscription to _The Economist_. Later today I will tally up the books I read this year. Between _The Economist_ and the _Failing New York Times,_ I am frankly overwhelmed. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/8 "2022-12-31T12:55:03Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Decisions. Decisions. I vote for Pelé. And concerning the biographes, I believe the TFP (The Former Pope) is one of the cases where the Wikipedia entry is enough. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/9 "2022-12-31T13:37:03Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > I vote for Pelé. Good choice. At least Pelé, unlike Benedict XVI, had donated a signed jersey to the Vatican museums. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/10 "2022-12-31T13:46:48Z")
That’s the sort of humor I come here for. Thanks for making my Saturday and early in the day to boot! ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/11 "2022-12-31T14:44:37Z")
I believe that he retired to avoid the inquiries about his role in covering up sex abuse within the church. Infallible, my ass. (Man, I’d love to see the look on his face when he realizes that there’s no afterlife) > **[Former pope Benedict admits making false claim to child sexual abuse inquiry](https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/24/former-pope-benedict-statement-child-sexual-abuse-inquiry)** > > Ex-pontiff blames ‘editorial oversight’ for previous statement he was absent from 1980 meeting over suspected paedophile priest ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/12 "2022-12-31T16:08:21Z")
This is also the kind of humor I come here for. 😂 ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/13 "2022-12-31T16:13:53Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > If one grants _arguendo_ the inherently silly notion of gods, intentional creation of humanity to a plan, popes, etc., one has to logically conclude that as awful as humanity is, and as badly as it collectively behaves, that’s what the god wanted. I think you are channelling [Stephen Fry on meeting god at the pearly gates](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo). I must have watched this a dozen times, and despite the content of what he’s actually _saying_ I still can’t help laughing out loud at what he packs into two minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/14 "2022-12-31T16:19:54Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > Infallible, my ass. Countdown to a Catholic popping in to say “Well, actually, the doctrine isn’t that everything the Pope says is infallible”… ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2022, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/15 "2022-12-31T16:22:05Z")
I adore Stephen Fry. I noticed his interviewer seemed a bit less than happy with what he was saying as it went on, but he was quite polite at the end. > [@Riemann](#): > > Countdown to a Catholic popping in to say “Well, actually, the doctrine isn’t that everything the Pope says is infallible”… Ex-Catholic, and I thought about it but passed it up. 😃 I disliked Ratzenberger. I don’t think he was a good person at all. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/16 "2023-01-01T01:20:38Z")
Good riddance to human garbage. He actively supported child rape, and allowed priests to be moved so they could continue raping children. I truly wish there was a Hell because that is where he belongs. F\*\*\* him! ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/17 "2023-01-01T02:04:05Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Fun fact, he was Pope Emeritus longer than he was the actual pope. slacker … … riding the gravy train and gaming god’s pension system 🫵 . jokes aside: I think his place in history will be defined not by what he did, but by what he failed to do … ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/18 "2023-01-01T02:24:03Z")
Too pooped to pope. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2023, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/19 "2023-01-01T02:27:36Z")
That dude had some beady, comic book villain eyes. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408/20 "2023-01-02T02:51:14Z")
You sure you aren’t mixing him up with Cardinal Law? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-emeritus-benedict-passes-away/977408.md?page=2)