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FoxNews.com Executive VP John Moody calls resignation 'one of the bravest things I've ever heard of'
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Get back to our top story today as Pope Benedict shocks the world with his resignation announcement this morning.
He will be stepping down at the end of the month.
John Moody worked as the chief of time magazine's Vatican -- he also wrote a biography on Pope John Paul the second.
He's the executive vice president and executive editor of foxnews.com.
And also has interviewed.
Pope Benedict.
In the past when he was cardinal John welcome thank you were married to to have you with that's this morning.
What's your reaction to this news and.
It is one of the bravest things I've ever heard of nobody gives up power willingly nobody gives up power without forethought.
For this man who.
Really the world hasn't gotten to know very well despite the fact that he's been around for -- as -- for seven years.
To do this I think speaks volumes about the kind of man he is in the kind of leader of the church that he insisted on being yeah.
It you know obviously Pope John Paul the second was.
You know rock star was one of the phrases that had been used.
For him -- -- -- -- so popular all around the world so popular with young people it was a tough spot to sort of step in -- Any any heat was determined to go on and on -- -- and he felt that being in firm was part of his.
His worship in many ways to god and that we have a quote.
From Pope John Paul the second that I'd like to pull up the week if it despite the limitations brought on by -- continued to enjoy life for this I thank the lord.
It is wonderful to be able to give oneself to the very end for the sake of the kingdom of god so here we have Benedict speaking of making a different choice and you say that it is very brave.
I I do -- and if you just look at how Pope John Paul the second looked at the end of his life as you just saw on the screen there.
Mean he was he was a horrible power of what he was when he first took.
The privacy and who's this young dynamic polish guy that came out and spoke every language -- ski area ski here and could newest and and all that.
Benedict I think came into the paint the -- reluctantly he is a thinker he is a scholar.
A theologian he didn't want the the limelight but I think just -- -- and indicated.
He wanted to continue John Paul's legacy and make sure that nothing.
Radical happens and radicalism to cardinal Ratzinger and then Pope Benedict was just anathema.
We have seen over the course of the history of popes in in some ways this kind of person who comes in for a shorter period of time.
And it was as you and I -- discussing in the break felt -- the time -- Pope John Paul the second step that he was the right person to sort of did to keep the faith to hold on to the gains that have been made.
Under John Paul the second.
What what do we learn from Benedict about what comes next.
I think the Pope.
Conservative.
If you will his time with with great honor and valor.
The church when it elects -- has a history of going long Pope short Pope long Pope short Pope.
Obviously when they reach out to elect Carol -- -- who became John Paul the second.
It was after John Paul the first has served only a few weeks.
As Pope and so they were shaken by this immediate death of their leader.
And what is somebody younger and more robust I think that might be what you see this time again.
I won very you know people talk about.
Archbishop that cardinal excuse me Dolan in New York as one of the can no doubt -- of minutes away probably on the news cycle from starting to put together lists of people are considered.
Would he be looking do you -- to other parts of the world or going back to it was a big deal when they picked the first non Italian and a long time and in Pope John Paul the second.
Pretty -- see this going any idea.
-- think the Roman Catholic Church has internationalized itself and it can't go back to being a little Italian conclave anymore.
The cardinal Dolan has to be in any serious consideration.
Any serious talk about who might be next.
Yankees fans all over the world to celebrate of course.
But term you know he's a he's a wonderful man from being an American is not an immediate advantage when you're in the conclave to -- -- Very interesting John thank you so much I know will be talking with you throughout this process which will be extending over the next four weeks at least hopes of as we continue to -- to watch -- thank you John good to see is always.
