Ex-Benedict

So he’s now the pope emeritus.

His papal reign lasted just a little shy of eight years. Joseph Ratzinger will be 86 in April.

Traditionalist Catholics are outraged. When you are elected pope, it is understood that you will die on the job. It is truly a romance till death us do part. For some the heartburn is a little reminiscent of the abdication of Edward VIII—bad form. It seems to show disrespect for the office. It had been 719 years since a pope had voluntarily abdicated, and that pope, Celestine V, was such a misfit that he lasted less than a year, had all his papal acts annulled by his successor, and was immediately put into prison after his abdication where he soon died.

I give Benedict XVI credit. If he had called for my advice, I’d have endorsed his plan. He was well past most people’s normal retirement age—78—when he was elected pope. Here are some reasons why I salute Benedict:

Women Deserve Bigger Role in Church, Says Key Cardinal

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Cardinal Leonardo Sandri talks during an interview with Reuters in Rome, March 2 (Reuters/Tony Gentile)

The Roman Catholic Church must open itself up to women in the next pontificate, giving them more leadership positions in the Vatican and beyond, according to a senior cardinal who will be influential in electing the next pope.

In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69, an Argentine, also said the next pope should not be chosen according to a geographic area but must be a "saintly man" qualified to lead the Church in a time of crisis.

He said one of the greatest challenges facing the Church was trying to win back those suffering from a "loss of faith" who had "turned their back on God" and the Church of their fathers.