(CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI's resignation captured the world's attention, and rightly. It is the first papal resignation in nearly six centuries. The pope leads a church that includes a sixth of the world's population. His gravitas reverberates outside Roman Catholicism: The pope talks and people listen. Others are fascinated by Vatican spectacle. Benedict speaks Latin and wears gold vestments. His successor's election by conclave, with sequestering and smoke, is high drama. But for all the excitement and ceremony, the pope is not the most important thing about Catholicism. For all his influence, the pope makes up an infinitesimal fraction of the opinions and activities of Catholics.
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Julie Byrne: Pope Benedict XVI's resignation rightly drew enormous world attention
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She says often media focus on the pope as entirety of Catholic Church
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While pope commands attention, lay groups have become increasingly important, she says
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Byrne: Church is split over many issues; Vatican doctrine is only part of the story
As several noted in the comments, @placeholder has already split.