Al Eisele

Editor-at-Large, The Hill

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the issue it raises of how his successor deals with a living ex-pope has touched off a heated debate among presidential historians about how American presidents deal with their predecessors. Here are some examples.

Sister Joan Chittister, OSB

Catholic Visionary

The fact that Benedict XVI has very humbly admitted the immensity of the present moment for the Church and decided to step out of it is, perhaps, the most powerful gift of this papacy.

Jon M. Sweeney

Author, book publisher, culture critic

I woke up last Monday to the news and was as shocked as everyone else. At least for the first few seconds. By 10:30 a.m. I was sitting in the offices of CBS News in Chicago, being interviewed about my book published a year ago, "The Pope Who Quit."

Rev. James Martin, S.J.

Catholic priest and author, 'The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything'

Never the media superstar that his predecessor was, Pope Benedict XVI, a lifelong scholar, exuded his own brand of charisma, which came from his profound theological acumen and his personal relationship with Jesus.

Irene Monroe

Nationally renowned African-American lesbian activist, scholar, public theologian and writer

Just hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced his unexpected resignation, a bolt of lightning struck St. Peter's Basilica. Many say it's unequivocally a sign from God. If so, I'm hoping it's an "amen" moment signaling the end of an oppressive era of LGBTQ bashing.

Richard J. Rosendall

President, Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA)

Valentine's Day traditionally brings several pages in newspaper classified sections featuring tiny black hearts followed by romantic messages. Perhaps it's a blessing that print editions are dying -- there's something creepy about all those black hearts, as if they bear a curse.

Lila Shapiro

Earlier this week, I wrote about how LGBT Catholics are hopeful -- if not optimistic -- that the next pope might be less vehemently anti-gay than Pope...

Ulf Gartzke

Director, Washington Office, Hanns-Seidel-Foundation

The Catholic Church must be viewed as an institution the by-laws of which were stipulated by Christ himself. As a result, the ultimate role of the pope is that of a custodian. If a pope were to be a revolutionary, he would fail at his job.

Michele Somerville

Poet; Author, 'Black Irish'

I'd like to imagine he took a sweeping look at his career as a priest and prelate, and while not discounting the value of this contributions as an intellectual, took note of the degree to which he permitted the "power" to snuff out so much of the "glory."

William J. Furney

Journalist

The pope news proved that religion matters, even though increasing numbers of us claim it doesn't.

Mark R. Kennedy

Professor of political management and director of the Graduate School of Political Management, George Washington University

Though the upcoming procedure for picking his successor may appear political, much forethought has been given to keeping it from being so.

Michelangelo Signorile

Editor-at-large, HuffPost Gay Voices

There's no question that Pope Benedict XVI"s resignation is a reflection of a crisis occurring in the Catholic Church. But to those Catholics, gay and non-gay alike, who have hopes that the change will be positive, I'd offer up the old expression, "Better the devil you know."

Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson

Global Leader, Metropolitan Community Churches

When Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict, virtually everyone wanted him to do well and to lead the Catholic Church toward the highest values of love and justice in the global world of faith. There was reason for hope.

Will Newman

Songwriter, Commercial Litigator

Nearly everyone around you is barely capable of washing their hands properly, let alone their actual jobs, and you don't see them quitting, do you?

Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Author and political analyst

A black or Latin American pope could send the strong message to practicing Catholics and prospective converts in Latin America or Africa that the Catholic Church is committed to making them not only church members, but policy decision makers.

Keith Thomson

Writer

Much is at stake with the selection of Pope Benedict XVI's successor, including a lot of money.