@zensky Yeah. My first thought on hearing that he was stepping down was of the books I’ve read about and by nuns (or ex-nuns) and how often (and to what degree) they are asked to sacrifice their own wants and needs, and any sense of self or personal judgment for what god has asked of them, whatever that may be. It makes me sad that the pope is not held to the same standard, either by himself or by his office, and I wonder what those in the lower orders think of this.
As a result, it has occurred to me that he may believe that stepping down is a service to the church – there may be something a-brewing (aside from the accusations we already know about) that he is trying to protect it from. But I don’t respect Ratzinger enough to think that is actually the case.