For the first time in over 600 years, the Vatican City has been shaken by the resignation of the pope. Benedict XVI, resigned Feb. 28, affecting the lives of Catholics around the world and at BVNW.

“I found out right when I woke up because I saw it on Twitter,” senior Lauren Freking said. “I was really surprised. And the first thing I thought was, ‘that is not normal.’  I was really shocked honestly.”

Although several popes have resigned before, there is no protocol for resignation.  The papacy can only elect a new pope in account of death. However, there is now a procedure being created to allow for resignation. Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at the University of Missouri, Jill Raitt said allowing for resignation emphasizes the office of the papacy instead of the man.  This is a departure from the previously monarchial vision of the papacy.  With a more modern perception, Raitt said Pope Benedict has set a wonderful precedent for the future of the Catholic Church.

“[The resignation] surprised everybody,”  Raitt said.  “But I think we’re not going to be that affected as long as the new pope is elected without a lot of difficulty.  The pope does what the pope does and the rest of us, depending on which end of the spectrum we’re on, love him or not and accept what’s going on and get on with our parish lives.”

Hopefully, a new pope will be elected in time for Holy Week which begins March 28, Raitt said.  There is pressure to meet this deadline so the newly selected pope may preside over the most important event of the Christian Calendar: Easter.

Raitt attributes Pope Benedict’s choice to resign to the previous pope, Pope John Paul II’s long struggle with Parkinson’s disease which caused disorder in the Vatican.  When Pope Benedict realized his own health was deteriorating, Raitt said he decided he would rather resign than be partially able to fulfill his duties as pope.

“No, I didn’t [expect the pope’s resignation to happen in my lifetime,]” senior Lauren Freking said.  “But I’m actually really glad it did because a lot of people think of the Catholic Church as something that is so routine and this isn’t something super traditional. I really admire him for having the humility to step down.  It’s something to look up to in my opinion.”

Consequently, there has been speculation about who will succeed Pope Benedict. For the first time, Raitt said there is a real possibility of an American pope being elected.  Although the cardinals are likely to choose a European, Raitt said archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan and cardinal-archbishop of Boston, Sean O’Malley are being considered.

Although Freking said it would be interesting to see a pope from the United States succeed Pope Benedict, she said she wants whoever is best for the job. Freking said she would like to see the pope be more involved with the younger members of the Catholic Church and be comfortable with being in the public eye.

“I think it is really important because there is constantly so much speculation from the media… [on the] the Catholic Church,” Freking said. “There have been a lot of things that have happened in this past decade…that have brought the church under fire. And someone who is comfortable being in the public and answering questions that are spur of the moment and just doing whatever comes at him will be someone who give us a good name and can explain what we believe better.”