Explaining The Resignation And Re-election To Non-catholics

[Gabriela]

How should we do it? If we hash it out here, we could all do a much better job for Holy Mother Church...

 

I, as a new (but fairly visible) Catholic, especially need ideas.

[4588686]

I think phatmass should mainly focused on the various conspiracies that could potentially derail my candidacy   While I'm not the only front runner I am by far the most qualified and phatmassers have far more day to day experience with me than other front runners.  

Edited February 11, 2013 by Hasan

[MRSannie]

^{It would be helpful if someone could give a synopsis of this from a church history standpoint (as opposed to what the press is putting out there) and give some concise responses we could use.  I imagine 'Are they allowed to do that?' and 'Has this ever happened before' would be two big questions.} 

[thessalonian]

From Feb. 28th to whenever the next pope is chosen the unbroken line will be broken????  Just kidding.  That unbroken line argument is silly.

[CatherineM]

I can't explain it to myself, so am clueless to explain it to anyone else.

[carmenchristi]

I'm not sure that there is much to e explained other than the explanation that he, himself gave.

The resignation of the pope is provided by in canon law.

Can 331 §2. If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.

It is an office that is freely accepted (the pope can say no when he is elected) and freely maintained, just like any other ecclesiastical office or function.

That being said, our times are changing. It is a delicate moment in history, and the Holy Spirit will put someone else on the throne of Peter. Why should he be required to take the pope to heaven in order to do that? He is allowed to communicate in other ways.

[Sirklawd]

Quick question. Can B16 join the conclave and help decide? I read that the age limit is 80, but since he's pope does that give him special rights?

Thanks for this thread. There will be a lot of (silly) speculation.

[BG45]

I'm with carmenchristi, he explained it well himself.  He's a frail man in his mid 80s, he requires help to go down the aisle at St. Peters, his doctor won't clear him for Trans-Atlantic travel any more and he's been working 18 hour days.  The papacy has worn down his body, as it would any of us, but especially one of his age. Good Conclave question...

[Lil Red]

Whispers in the Loggia has a good piece up: http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2013/02/b16-announces-resignation.html

 

Nearly eight years since his election, Pope Benedict XVI announced this morning that, at the end of the month, he will become the first Roman pontiff since Celestine V in 1294 to resign from the Chair of Peter.


The 85 year-old – who has quietly indicated over the years that he would take the drastic step should he feel it necessary – broke the news during a previously-scheduled consistory to approve some causes for canonization (above); originally given in Latin, the following English translation of the statement was released by the Holy See:

Beyond the statement, no timetable or other parameters are currently known on the holding of a Conclave – we're in very uncharted territory here, folks, so please be patient. The lone item of canon law to even mention a pontiff's resignation is Canon 332, paragraph 2, which states that "If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone."

Along the same lines, there is no established protocol whatsoever for the titles, status or prerogatives of a retired Pope.

On Friday, Benedict raised some eyebrows by having a rare private audience with the Dean of the College of Cardinals, the 85 year-old Italian Angelo Sodano, the figure who would be responsible for the convoking of a papal election. The departing pontiff ostensibly communicated his plan to the Cardinal-Dean at that point. 

That said, as both Sodano and his Vice-Dean, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, are past the eligibility age to vote, under the norms currently in place, the duty of presiding over the Conclave would seem to fall to the senior cardinal-bishop younger than 80: the retired prefect of the Congregation for Bishops Giovanni Battista Re, who turned 79 in late January.

Under the operative norms governing Conclaves in the wake of a Pope's death, the voting college is to start the election between 15 and 20 days from the moment of the vacancy. In this case, however, the traditional novemdiales – the nine days of official mourning before the election – would not apply.

Now comprised of 118 voting members younger than 80, the College as a whole – retirees included – governs the church during a papal interregnum.

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

[thessalonian]

"I'm not sure that there is much to e explained other than the explanation that he, himself gave."

 

OH COME ON! YOU KNOW DARN WELL THERE WAS A JESUIT LURKING IN THE AUDIENCE!

[Apotheoun]

I think the best thing to do is to say . . . Pope Benedict decided to resign.  Not much to explain really.

[Lil Red]

http://jimmyakin.com/2013/02/first-thoughts-on-pope-benedicts-resignation.html

 

Jimmy Akin's piece

[Basilisa Marie]

The way I explain it to non-Catholic people is that it's as much a spiritual position as a practical one.  Pope John Paul II probably saw great spiritual benefits for the Church in offering up his own sufferings and prayer.  On the other hand, Benedict's statement is clear that he thinks it's important right now to have a physically and mentally strong leader, and he doesn't feel like he can do as good of a job as he thinks is necessary. Popes have always been perfectly able to resign if they want to, they just haven't.  If anything, Benedict resigning opens the door for future popes to feel better about resigning if they have health issues and think it's right.  We don't have a protocol for what happens to a retired pope, so it's an interesting time in the Church.  

 

I think it's important to emphasize that what he's doing isn't scandalous, it's fully within his rights, it's just unusual.  

I don't think the pope will be present for the conclave.  

[Kateri89]

Just curious, what do we refer to him as once he has resigned?  Does he become Cardinal again?  Do we refer to him as Cardinal Ratzinger?  It just occurred to me that I'll have no idea what to call him.  I'm guessing many people are as clueless as I am about this since the last pope to resign did so in the 13th century...

[Apotheoun]

Just curious, what do we refer to him as once he has resigned?  Does he become Cardinal again?  Do we refer to him as Cardinal Ratzinger?  It just occurred to me that I'll have no idea what to call him.  I'm guessing many people are as clueless as I am about this since the last pope to resign did so in the 13th century...

Hopefully he fades into obscurity and we don't call him anything.  The last pope to voluntarily resign was captured by his successor, imprisoned, mistreated, and died (he was possibly murdered) a short time after his resignation.

 

Postscript:  I'm sure Benedict will be treated better by his successor.   :smile2:

Edited February 11, 2013 by Apotheoun