Pope Benedict XVI 'to resign'

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Pope Benedict is a good and holy man whose leadership has been a strong influence on the Church. I hope he is able to find some measure of comfort and enjoyment in his remaining time on earth.
 
Godric2 said:
Apparently the last time a pope restires, uncoerced, was in 1294 - Celestine V

Godric
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Right its not common. I do believe Pope Benedict is right on this issue though. His concern isn’t physical its his mental clarity and how it declines, and how he feels its affecting his own ability as Bishop of Rome.
 
The pope is resigning due to ill health (according to what i have read) so my prayers go out to him for his health and for thanks for leading the biggest church in the World!

Just out of curiosity and for discussion sake,

Who do you think the next pope will be?
 
I thought this was a joke when I saw a friend post it on Facebook. Not the news I wanted to wake up to today. 😦
 
Is he ill? I mean beyond just old age? Very sad…

How will this effect the catholic world?
 
JMJSHJ said:
It’s all over the news. This is a shocker for sure. According to the prophecies of St. Malachy it would mean that the next Pope is the last one that he prophesied about.
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Thank God we can get that over with! No one knows the time nor hour.
 
LilyM said:
Obviously. While it was heroic of JPII to stay on in office during his illness, it could be that BXVI simply didn’t feel called to do the same. There’s something to be said for leaving before he becomes too incapacitated.
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I agree. If BXVI’s health is failing, I have no issues with him resigning.
Gricken said:
Can popes even DO this? I’ve never heard about it.
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The last Pope who stepped down was Pope Gregory XII back in the year…1415.

Doesn’t happen often 😉
 
Gricken said:
Can popes even DO this? I’ve never heard about it.
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Of course they can, the Papacy is not different from any bishopric in that regard.

Several in the past have, though none for over 500 years.
 
Can. 332
§1 The Roman Pontiff acquires full and supreme power in the Church when, together with episcopal consecration, he has been lawfully elected and has accepted the election. Accordingly, if he already has the episcopal character, he receives this power from the moment he accepts election to the supreme pontificate. If he does not have the episcopal character, he is immediately to be ordained Bishop.

§2 Should it happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns from his office, it is required for validity that the resignation be freely made and properly manifested, but it is not necessary that it be accepted by anyone.

What does that mean?

And to whom is he going to address or send the resignation to?
 
This is quite shocking, and very brave on the pope’s part. Although I obviously would have preferred to see him in perfect health for the rest of his life, it’s important to set a modern precedent for popes to resign. With modern medicine, (assuming he doesn’t have some sort of degenerative disease like John Paul II had), he could have conceivably clung to his office for another decade or more. He chose the better route.
 
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