The Holy Father has decided to step down from his office, because his abilities, due to an advanced age are no longer adequate to performing his ministry; that his duties require “strengths of both mind and body.”

If only some of our elected officials had possessed the wisdom and humility of His Holiness. Robert Byrd, Strom Thurmond, and Daniel Inouye come to mind. There have been many more.

And among those yet to “shuffle off this mortal coil,” but still in their own minds convinced of their own irreplacibility, are Frank Lautenberg, John Dingell, John Conyers, Ralph Hall, Charlie Rangel, Bill Young, Louise Slaughter, Sander Levin.

Dick Lugar stayed too long at the party. As did Daniel Akaka.

And Ruth Bader Ginsburg, while not elected, surely makes the list.