Breaking news out of Rome as Pope Benedict XVI is set to resign at the end of this month, or so says BBC. The 85 year old only became Pope in 2005 after Pope John Paul II died, making his less than 8 year term something of a surprise.

Can a Pope resign? Has a Pope ever resigned before? Is he not supposedly selected by the hand of God or some such? Was Twitter just too much for @pontifex? And what caused such an unprecedented and speedy resignation? Too many questions, but hopefully we'll get some answers soon.

UPDATE: Statement from the Vatican and Benedict himself saying his resignation is because his 'strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry' and that he has 'had to recognize [his] incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to [him]'. Il Papa Neuvo is to be selected sometime after February 28th when Benedict stands down at 8pm.