Pope Benedict's resignation

[Genesis315]

Vatican II “earnestly requested” that bishops less capable of fulfilling their duties due to age (it did not provide a particular age) offer their resignation on their own accord or upon the invitation of the competent authority (Christus Dominus 21). The reasoning the Council gave was that the office of bishop was “so important and weighty.” Given that reasoning, it seems this earnest request would apply even more so to the bishop of the diocese of Rome.

Pope Paul VI established ages for which bishops were required to offer their resignation to him, but he of course never resigned.

However, for the most part, in the past nearly all bishops, including the bishop of Rome, used to stay on until death (and if they didn’t, they usually received titular sees). Now emeritus bishops are common. We’ll see what happens with emeritus bishops of Rome.

 

[Lazybones]

Card. Ratzinger had planned to retire and go live with his brother, upon the death of JPII. He accepted the position of pope somewhat reluctantly but humbly. It was his health that forced him to retire. What a fine servant he is, imo.

 

[Lysander]

Members on CAF speculate too much and assume nefarious reasons for post. When a person might just want the fact. We should not presume someones motives are negative until the person shows without a doubt their motives are negative.

 

[graciew]

http://www.vatican.va/content/bened...ments/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20130211_declaratio.html

Dear Brothers,

I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

From the Vatican, 10 February 2013

BENEDICTUS PP XVI

 

[Limoncello4021]

Celestine was not only woefully incompetent as pope but was pressured by the next pope, Boniface VIII, to resign, which he did after only 5 months. Boniface then had him imprisoned and fought against his supporters. Interesting times.

 

[dochawk]

Before Benedict XVI, only five popes unambiguously resigned with historical certainty, all between the 10th and 15th centuries,

The tendency of emperors to execute former bishops of Rome for retiring may have something to do with this

Benedict’s decision seems a sensible one for his successors to follow.

Note that Rome is unique among the ancient patriarchies in tending not to retire in such situations . . .

Also, given the load, it is unlikely that +Benedict would have survived long had he not retired . . .

I don’t think he had a great desire to be made Pope.

I’d go further and state that he seems to have had a very strong desire not to be forced into the papacy . . .

 

[po18guy]

We can never understand the big picture in our lifetime. We will have to die in a state of grace and ask! Despite how twisted and terrible things appear, it is good, always and everywhere, to remember that God writes straight using crooked lines.

 

[CTBcin]

Celestine was not only woefully incompetent as pope

Yes, I think part of his resignation was due to his realization that he did not have the leadership qualities needed for the papacy. Certainly a sign of humility in my book.