UPDATE 5-Pope's sudden resignation sends shockwaves through Church

... opposition to gay marriage, underscored the Church's resistance to a female priesthood and to embryonic stem cell research. A new leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics could be elected as soon as Palm Sunday, on March 24 and be ready to ...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/11/pope-resigns-idUSL5N0BBDOC20130211?feedType=RSS&feedName=industrialsSector