Can The Pope Abdicate?

[Margarite]

This question came up in a discussion with my relatives who said the Pope could be ousted (I don't know if that term is correct), but he could not abdicate because his acceptance of the papal office was a covenant to his death.

I said that it was the oposite, but didn't have anything to refer to. (maybe because I'm wrong?)

[Adeodatus]

Being baptised, confirmed or ordained deacon, priest or bishop involves a change in your very being. You receive an indelible 'character' that can never be erased. So, for example, a priest is a priest "forever, according to the order of Melchisedech" (as Scripture puts it).

But being Pope is to be bishop of Rome, and hence, successor to the Apostles Peter and Paul. This is an office, not a sacrament, and certainly not a sacrament that involves a change in 'character'. The Pope's being a bishop involves a sacramental ontological change in him, but his being Pope does not. It is an office he can refuse to accept at his election, and it is one he can willingly lay down even after accepting it.

Canon Law thus provides for the occasion (should it ever arise) for a Pope to resign his office. His resignation does not need to be accepted by anyone, but is valid of itself because there is no church authority higher than the papacy to receive such a resignation. This has happened once in the last 2000 years (I forget the Pope's name).

A Pope cannot be ousted or deposed. Well, people can try to depose him, but he will remain the valid Pope until he dies or freely and uncoercedly decides to resign.