In the wake of Pope Benedict XVI's announcement of his resignation, Springfield’s Bishop says the next pope should be a "thinker" who can reach out to other religions and non-believers. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki says Benedict excelled at that.
%22He%20always%20cherished%20that%20role%20of%20being%20an%20intellectual%20and%20a%20theologian.%20And%20I%20have%20a%20sneaking%20suspicion%20that%20even%20in%20retirement%20he%20may%20continue%20to%20do%20that.%20He%20loves%20to%20write%2C%20he%20loves%20to%20play%20the%20piano%2C%20and%20he%27ll%20have%20a%20lot%20more%20time%20to%20do%20both%20now.%22%20-Bishop%20Thomas%20Paprocki
Paprocki says he’s not surprised Benedict stepped down, given what he calls the pope’s declining health and advanced age. Benedict was 78 when he was elected pope in 2005, one of the oldest in history. Paprocki says he expects the next pope will be younger.