[muawiyah]

Working in a place where people who can be expected to stick to their guns and strive for the best under intense pressure for decades on end, it's easy to understand why the Pope would retire in his mid 80s.

According to other posts earlier he will still have been the second-oldest Pope over the last 1000 years (for which we have records).

[Salvation]

Some friends and I were talking about the age of 75 when Bishops are asked to retire so that new blood can lead the diocese.

Benedict has served 10 years beyond that criterium.

I don’t think too many people are aware that when he was a Cardinal he received a pacemaker.