Pope John Paul was a hard act to follow, but his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, has done his best to fill the shoes as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Today the Vatican announced that the 85-year-old pope will be resigning by the end of February because of his inability to fulfill the duties of his office. The pontiff said his strength "has deteriorated" in the last few months, according to a CNN report.
It will be the first time in 600 years that a pope has resigned, rather than die, in office. It may also mean huge changes ahead for the Catholic Church.
SPEAK OUT: What do you think the Pope's resignation will have on the Church? Is it a good thing for the church, or do you fear what may be coming? Tell us what you think.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2010/03/the_great_catholic_coverup.html