What Hugo Chavez Can Learn From The Pope

What Hugo Chavez Can Learn From The Pope
FILE - This April 19, 2005 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI greeting the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica moments after being elected, at the Vatican. "Naturally the pope couldn't change completely at that moment, so he went out with those black sleeves _ we could see his sweater!" Vatican's master of liturgical celebrations Piero Marini recalled. "But even that was a human gesture of how he was dressed as a cardinal." Next month's conclave to elect the 266th leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will have all the trappings of papal elections past, with the added twist that the this time around the current pope is still very much alive. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis/FILE)
FILE - This April 19, 2005 file photo shows Pope Benedict XVI greeting the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica moments after being elected, at the Vatican. "Naturally the pope couldn't change completely at that moment, so he went out with those black sleeves _ we could see his sweater!" Vatican's master of liturgical celebrations Piero Marini recalled. "But even that was a human gesture of how he was dressed as a cardinal." Next month's conclave to elect the 266th leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will have all the trappings of papal elections past, with the added twist that the this time around the current pope is still very much alive. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis/FILE)

One of the reasons that Pope Benedict XVI's resignation was so unexpected was that it is so rare for powerful leaders to step aside because they are not up to the job.

On Monday there was a striking honesty in the Pope's statement, particularly when he said, "in today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern…and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me."

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