Pope Benedict XVI.  Photo courtesty Flickr Creative Commons, credit: Sergey Gabdurakhamanor

Pope Benedict's decision to step down from office represents a break in nearly 600 years of papal tradition.

Catholic News Service reporter John Thavis has covered the Vatican for 30 years. Thavis tells Steve Fast that the pope's resignation may be indicative of greater change within the highest levels of the Catholic church, at least among a vocal group within the college of cardinals.

"A lot of these Cardinals feel that it's time to change things and moderize things throughout the Roman Curia, which still operates in kind of Medieval fashion," Thavis says.

Thavis is the author of the book "The Vatican Diaries."  In the book, the "vaticanista," -- a term used to refer to the journalists who cover the Vatican -- profiles an organization that is simultaneously secretive, yet unorganized.

Listen to the interview: John Thavis on The Steve Fast Show.

Contact Steve Fast at steve.fast@cumulus.com

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