"And as pope he’s met with victims in various countries around the world and also had sexual abuse of a child classified as one of the gravest crimes against the church," he said.

Some European commentators are suggesting that Benedict was pushed out because of those efforts.

Chester Gillis is a theology professor and dean of Georgetown College in Washington. He dismisses that theory.

"I do not think that he would have succumbed to some international or external pressure to resign. There’s been lots of pressure on every pope historically, and they’ve stayed around. So I think this was a deliberate choice on his part," Gillis said.

He says the legacy left by Benedict and John Paul II is an arch-conservative church out of step with many Roman Catholics.

"And if they get another really hardline conservative they may say, 'Okay, enough, I’m out.' And some conservatives would say, 'That’s fine we don’t need them,'" Gillis said.

Benedict himself does not officially have a vote over who will be his successor. But more than half the cardinals who do, were appointed by him.

Ron Johnson says there are some qualities he would welcome in the next pontiff.

"I hope the next pope is a lot like John Paul II - someone who is outgoing, who is energetic, who is bilingual. A person of color perhaps even," Johnson said.

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