from washingtonpost.com: Spain’s King Juan Carlos announced Monday that he will give up his job in favor of his son. Juan Carlos follows in the footsteps of two other heads of state. Last year, the Dutch queen and the Belgian king stepped down so their sons could take over. More surprising was last year’s decision by Pope Benedict XVI to resign, a move that stunned Catholics around the world. Juan Carlos said Crown Prince Felipe, 46, is ready to be king and will “open a new era of hope.”