( CNN ) -- Pope Benedict XVI 's decision to resign caught a lot of Vatican watchers , apparently even some in his inner circle , off-guard . They should not have been so surprised . Canon law includes a provision for a papal resignation . But traditionally , popes continue their reigns until their natural deaths , much as a father can never `` resign '' from his place in a family . Before he was pope , as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger , Benedict watched an increasingly frail Pope John Paul II struggle to shoulder his many responsibilities and respond , in his final years , to the scandal of the clerical sexual abuse crisis in the United States and Europe . Another reason it is not a shock : In Peter Seewald 's `` Light of the World , '' a book-length interview with Benedict , the pope was unambiguous about his openness to the idea of papal resignation . Too tired to go on , Pope Benedict resigns . Yes , a pope could resign , Benedict said . `` If a pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically , psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office , then he has a right and , under some circumstances , also an obligation to resign . '' And by some accounts , Benedict made three pilgrimages to the tomb of Pope Celestine V , who resigned from the papacy in 1294 . So what comes next ? Presuming that this pope 's resignation follows the same protocol as the death of a pope , all major decisions and pronouncements will be on hold after Benedict 's reign ends February 28 . The See of Peter will be vacant -- officially `` Sede Vacante . '' During the vacancy , Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone , the Holy See 's camerlengo , Italian for chamberlain , takes charge with the help of three cardinal assistants . To prevent forgery , Bertone will break the pope 's fisherman 's ring by hitting it with a small hammer , a tradition that was started when the ring was used to seal documents . Benedict 's apartment will be sealed to prevent any hijinks with official documents . Opinion : Why pope will be remembered for generations . Bertone will organize a conclave of 118 cardinals , who must meet in Rome within 20 days of the end of Benedict 's reign to deliberate on a successor . White smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel 's chimney will indicate a selection . Guessing who that selection might be , one of the church 's favorite spectator sports , has already begun among papal watchers worldwide . Among the `` papabile , '' or possible contenders , are Cardinal Angelo Scola , archbishop of Milan , which would return the job to an Italian ; Cardinal Marc Ouellet , former archbishop of Quebec ; Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana , president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace , which would be a nod to the African church 's growing numbers and influence ; and Joao Braz de Aviz of Brazil , indicating a liberating take on the church in the future . The Pope 's resignation , explained . How about Cardinals Donald Wuerl or Timothy Dolan from the United States ? They are outside contenders . The rest of the world thinks Americans are super-powered enough already . Whoever is chosen will face the many challenges that Pope Benedict has no doubt wisely decided he no longer has the stamina to address , including : . • The growing secularization and antipathy of the West . • Violence and intolerance visited on Christians in Islamic nations like Pakistan , Egypt and Syria . • The evaporating Christian presence in the Holy Land , Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East . • More brutal revelations of clerical sexual abuse in Africa and Latin America , which have yet to adequately confront the problem . • The ongoing priest shortage . • Plummeting church attendance . • Growing calls for optional celibacy . • Persisting demands for women 's ordination and more . Is there somebody out there who really wants this job ? Surprising standards for next Catholic leader . Perhaps now , with confidence that a new precedent has been set and an actual well-deserved retirement would not be completely out of the question , someone will be courageous or foolhardy enough to step forward . And in an oddity of church tradition , that person need not be a cleric , only a baptized male . So if you are , feel free to submit your application to the College of Cardinals . Meanwhile , let us pray whoever is the next pope is also equipped with compassion , mercy and vision . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Kevin Clarke .
Kevin Clarke : Pope Benedict XVI 's decision to resign caught papal watchers off - guard . Clarke : But canon law allows papal resignation ; it 's tradition that popes reign till death . Benedict said a pope is allowed to resign if he ca n't handle it . Clarke : Whoever is chosen will deal with huge challenges to Catholic Church .