BREAKING NEWS: Pope to resign

[TomD123]

He will not be infallible as soon as he resigns.
The power of infallibility rests in the office of the Papacy not in the man himself. The man recieves this power in virtue of his office.

 

[coachdennis]

Since we are in uncharted territory, unless someone was around in 1415, we will have to wait and see.

However, I envision Benedict going into quiet seclusion and would not comment on pronouncements. This is not like an ex-President so Americans have to get that “mindset” out of their heads, period.

Also, Benedict is a smart enough man to know that ANY comments he made could be used against the new pope by quarreling factions in the church, and he loves the church too much for that to happen.

 

[jonathan_hili]

Infallibility subsists in the office of the Bishop of Rome because he speaks from the Chair of Peter, i.e. ex cathedra. Once someone vacates the Chair, he no longer has infallible inspiration in the same manner.

 

[Gorgias]

Now that the Pope has resigned and once a new Pope has been elected and installed would Benedict still be considered to be infallible in matters of faith and morals?

No, at least not in the same way. As a bishop, he would still speak infallibly when speaking as part of the college of bishops, or when speaking in concert with the pope. However, he would no longer speak as the bishop of Rome, so that exercise of infallibility would no longer be his to exercise.

After all he will still be same man he was as Pope Benedict XVI. In fact, can we have two people who are considered to be as such.

I don’t ask this question lightly. How can a person be considered to be infallible one moment and not the next.

Because the exercise of infallibility proceeds from the office, and not the man as such. After he resigns and once a new pope is chosen, the ability to speak as pope will reside with that man.

I was taught that infallibility was with the man and the God would not allow him to make errors in the realm of faith and morals. So I am troubled with the question of now the duality of the doctrine of infallibility.

With the man in his role as pope. Big difference there, and I can see why it would be troubling, if you considered it purely as a personal power.

 

[Nimzovik]

Infallable? No. I am given to understand that as we age, we tend to trip a lot.

 

[franc1sc0]

Hmmm you know what else, if the Conclave begins mid-March, the new Pope’s Inauguration might be on Palm Sunday – definite symbolism there as it’s when Christ made His Triumphal Entry.

What’s God trying to tell us?

Last Pope died on Divine Mercy Sunday – the Feast that he himself made universal and proposed by a saint from his home diocese. God was telling us to pay attention.

Let’s hope we understand what God is trying to tell us now.

I didnt know this, Thanks for posting this.

 

[brb3]

The last thing we should want to do is have an influence. This is not a Presidential ballot, nor is the Church a democracy. This is about who God wants, not who we would like.

The Church had always listened to the laity…the Bishops hear from us and apprise the Papacy of our concerns & desires. No, we shouldn’t write letters to the pope or start a public campaign for a certain candidate. We make our desires known thru proper channels…our priests/ Bishops /and now, by emails and Tweets !!!

 

[brb3]

I am not surprised. He previously said he would resign if he couldn’t carry out the duties of being pope due to age and health. Also, I assumed either rightly or wrongly that he didn’t necessarily like the traveling inherent with the position.

Surely he witnessed the struggle of JP2 at the end…maybe that influenced his decision.

 

[Santi2]

Now that the Pope has resigned and once a new Pope has been elected and installed would Benedict still be considered to be infallible in matters of faith and morals?

After all he will still be same man he was as Pope Benedict XVI. In fact, can we have two people who are considered to be as such.

I don’t ask this question lightly. How can a person be considered to be infallible one moment and not the next. I was taught that infallibility was with the man and the God would not allow him to make errors in the realm of faith and morals. So I am troubled with the question of now the duality of the doctrine of infallibility.

There’s no duality. The infallibility of the Pope rests on who he ***is ***i.e. successor of Peter. We go on from there. When the Holy Father retires, he will still be the great theologian that he is now.

 

[RoseMary131]

Now that the Pope has resigned and once a new Pope has been elected and installed would Benedict still be considered to be infallible in matters of faith and morals?

After all he will still be same man he was as Pope Benedict XVI. In fact, can we have two people who are considered to be as such.

I don’t ask this question lightly. How can a person be considered to be infallible one moment and not the next. I was taught that infallibility was with the man and the God would not allow him to make errors in the realm of faith and morals. So I am troubled with the question of now the duality of the doctrine of infallibility.

Infallibility applies when making a declared Infallible statement from the Chair of Peter on issues of faith an morals. It is not a “person” which is infallible, but the Vicar of Christ as speaking from the Chair. (A person fills the position (Office, Chair), but the person is no longer speaking as his own person but as the Vicar of Christ from the Chair when speaking infallibly…and only when speaking “infallibly.”)

Pope Benedict could have made an infallible statement, he did not. He (the person) will no longer be sitting as the Pope. There will only be one man who is Pope (filling the Office, filling the Chair) and only (the) Pope can speak infallibly. Pope Benedict never exercised Infallibility.

The last infallible teaching was 1950 - The Assumption of Mary.

 

[Vouthon]

Pope Benedict will no longer be infallible when he gives up the office. He will likely receive the title of pope emeritus. We still refer to past popes as pope such and such. Benedict will I imagine be no different even though he is still living.

 

[Corruich]

What do we even call him now? Surely not Pope and perhaps not even Benedict? Is he still Benedict if he resigned? Does he go back to his bishop title/name?

 

[Mark1124]

Now that the Pope has resigned and once a new Pope has been elected and installed would Benedict still be considered to be infallible in matters of faith and morals?

After all he will still be same man he was as Pope Benedict XVI. In fact, can we have two people who are considered to be as such.

I don’t ask this question lightly. How can a person be considered to be infallible one moment and not the next. I was taught that infallibility was with the man and the God would not allow him to make errors in the realm of faith and morals. So I am troubled with the question of now the duality of the doctrine of infallibility.

Even while he is Pope, most of the time he is not infallible in matters of faith and morals. There are a very specific set of circumstances which must apply for the Pope to make an infallible pronouncement-one of which, of course, is that he must be the Pope. So after he retires, he will not be able to make infallible pronouncements.

 

[Prayer_Warrior]

No, that charism goes with the office.

 

[garn9173]

What do we even call him now? Surely not Pope and perhaps not even Benedict? Is he still Benedict if he resigned? Does he go back to his bishop title/name?

Yes, he will be the Bishop Emeritus (sp?) of the Diocese of Rome.

 

[Memaw]

From how I understand Catholic teaching, I don’t think he can make infallible pronouncements once he leaves office. The Pope speaks infallibly “Ex Cathedra” - or from his Holy office. Without that office, he remains worthy of deep respect, but he is not longer acting as the successor to St. Peter.

As an aside, I do pray for the Catholic church and pray that while I don’t believe in Papal Infallibility myself, that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the Catholic church as it has so very obviously done in good Pope Benedict XVI.

God Bless you Ben, it is sooo consoling to have a non-Catholic speak so warmly about our Church. I have placed you in my ‘permanent’ prayers.Thank you, Memaw.

 

[Memaw]

Even while he is Pope, most of the time he is not infallible in matters of faith and morals. There are a very specific set of circumstances which must apply for the Pope to make an infallible pronouncement-one of which, of course, is that he must be the Pope. So after he retires, he will not be able to make infallible pronouncements.

The Pope is always infallible whenever he speaks on matters of faith and morals. Infallibility covers lots of things, it is not as narrow as you think!. God Bless, Memaw.

 

[Joe_5859]

Infallibility has to do with the office of the Pope, not the man in the office. Since Benedict will no longer be in that office, he will no longer have that charism.

 

[Michael_Francis]

Threads merged.

 

[RoseMary131]

The Pope is always infallible whenever he speaks on matters of faith and morals. Infallibility covers lots of things, it is not as narrow as you think!. God Bless, Memaw.

Memaw, can you explain what you mean?

Only when the Pope speaks infallibly from the Chair on matters of faith and morals is it an infallible statement. The last infallible statement - the last time a Pope exercised infallibility was 1950 - The Assumption of Mary.

Peace.