The Former Pope

[Kirovsakya]

I cannot remember the last time a Supreme Pontiff resigned from office.

What are the duties of a former Pope? Will he have an official title? Will he simply be demoted to a lesser office? Will he have any voice in things Catholic?

What happens to his infallibility and universal jurisdiction? Are they simply “annulled”?

What if there is no one qualified to take his place? Can Benedict XVI be forced to remain on the Chair of Peter, against his will?

Can the Church survive a period of 1-5 years without a Pope, or will it simply elect an unqualified candidate and endow him with infallibility and universal jurisdiction?

'Sakya

 

[MarkThompson]

I cannot remember the last time a Supreme Pontiff resigned from office.

That stands to reason – it was 600 years ago, after all.

What are the duties of a former Pope? Will he have an official title? Will he have any voice in things Catholic?

Nobody knows.

What happens to his claim of infallibility and universal jurisdiction? Are they simply “annulled”?

The Petrine ministry appertains to the office, not to the man. By renouncing the leadership of the universal Church, he ceases to be Pope, with all that that entails and requires.

What if there is no one qualified to take his place? Can the Church survive a period of 1-5 years without a Pope, or will it simply elect an unqualified candidate and ordain him with infallibility and universal jurisdiction?

In one sense, nobody is ever “qualified” to be the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church on earth. In another, more relevant, sense, however, if you think that there is nobody up to the task, you do not know very much about out current cardinals.

In any event, the Church has had plenty of “unqualified” popes (in the sense you mean) in history. We’re still here, though. That is part of Christ’s promise to Peter – upon this rock, etc., and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

 

[MichaelHowling]

This is kind of uncharted ground…the last time it happened was 600 years ago and it only happened a few times in history.

I believe he will be called to live a life of prayer. There is a rumor going around that he will spend the rest of his days in a place in the vatican. one of the possible titles will be bishop emmaritis. He will not be voting in the next election . He will have his jurisdiction and papal infallibility will be annulled by setting down his position (because he does it with his own free will and because they are for the pope…of which he will no longer be).

there is someone qualifyed, we see the holy spirit at work when a pope leaves office.

He cannot be forced to stay against his will.

It’s going to be interesting.

 

[Kirovsakya]

…
The Petrine ministry appertains to the office, not to the man. By renouncing the leadership of the universal Church, he ceases to be Pope, with all that that entails and requires.

In one sense, nobody is ever “qualified” to be the Vicar of Christ and head of the Church on earth. In another, more relevant, sense, however, if you think that there is nobody up to the task, you do not know very much about out current cardinals.

In any event, the Church has had plenty of “unqualified” popes (in the sense you mean) in history. We’re still here, though. That is part of Christ’s promise to Peter – upon this rock, etc., and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it…

I would think that a sitting Roman Pope could renounce any leadership that he actually HAD, nothing more.

But within the Roman Church, does Benedict XVI, at this late date, retain the authority to renounce the NEED for a successor to the Chair of Peter and the privileges of that office? Or would such a proclamation violate the “spirit” of the faith and morals clause?

 

[gus]

I would think that a sitting Roman Pope could renounce any leadership that he actually HAD, nothing more.

But within the Roman Church, does Benedict XVI, at this late date, retain the authority to renounce the NEED for a successor to the Chair of Peter and the privileges of that office? Or would such a proclamation violate the “spirit” of the faith and morals clause?

Does any bishop in the church have that authority
Unless the Orthodox Church has changed things in effect for 2000. Years

 

[Least]

. . .has 17 days on the clock. Sixteen and a wake-up.

before we move quickly to consider his role “after-office,”

first consider that you are guaranteed no greater time here on earth than that.

I would wonder what role we will all have after that and I, for one, would like to buy his Holiness a beer.

 

[MarkThompson]

I would think that a sitting Roman Pope could renounce any leadership that he actually HAD, nothing more.

Naturally.

But within the Roman Church, does Benedict XVI, at this late date, retain the authority to renounce the NEED for a successor to the Chair of Peter and the privileges of that office? Or would such a proclamation violate the “spirit” of the faith and morals clause?

If you mean, could a pope abolish the papacy altogether (or, let’s say, devolve its powers upon a council of some sort), I suspect the answer is no, although I don’t know if this has ever been dogmatically defined.

 

[Kirovsakya]

Does any bishop in the church have that authority
Unless the Orthodox Church has changed things in effect for 2000. Years

A Bishop of the Roman Church? You tell me.

The Orthodox church has Bishops but none of them claim infallibility. Nor do they claim jurisdiction over any church other than their own. So I would have to answer NO, the Orthodox church has not changed things in effect for 2000 years.

 

[L_Marshall]

I cannot absolutely confirm this, but I have heard that Benedict will be moving into a Carmelite Monastery in the town of Castello Gandolfo.

The rest is unwritten.

 

[Kirovsakya]

…
If you mean, could a pope abolish the papacy altogether (or, let’s say, devolve its powers upon a council of some sort), I suspect the answer is no, although I don’t know if this has ever been dogmatically defined.
…

In the past 600 years, there has simply been no need to address the matter. But now, there is a sitting Pope who apparently has the authority to reconcile the Roman church with its own apostolic foundation and traditions,and with the Eastern churches that share the same foundation and traditions.

To tighten up this gaping loophole, the RCC would have to either establish the limits of “papal infallibility” or redefine the realm of “faith and morals” as it applies to a “lame duck” Pope in the last month of his Papacy. Either would require the work of a Council to preempt the possibility of a future Pope, in the last month of his Papacy, reconciling the RCC with Apostolic Christianity.

 

[GangGreen]

He’ll probably just live a quiet life of prayer. He may continue to write, but I think that’s about all you’ll hear from him going forward.

 

[MarkThompson]

In the past 600 years, there has simply been no need to address the matter. But now, there is a sitting Pope who apparently has the authority to reconcile the Roman church with its own apostolic foundation and traditions,and with the Eastern churches that share the same foundation and traditions.

To tighten up this gaping loophole, the RCC would have to either establish the limits of “papal infallibility” or redefine the realm of “faith and morals” as it applies to a “lame duck” Pope in the last month of his Papacy. Either would require the work of a Council to preempt the possibility of a future Pope, in the last month of his Papacy, reconciling the RCC with Apostolic Christianity.

I confess, I really have no idea what point you’re trying to make here. If you’re expecting a pope to declare that the Orthodox were right all along, I somehow don’t think that’s going to happen. And if you think there’s some big difference between a pope in the last month of his reign and a pope in the first, or any other, month, it is entirely non-obvious to me why that should be the case.

At any rate, the Catholic Church embodies Apostolic Christianity. All other ecclesial communities need to be reconciled with us.

 

[Least]

No loophole.

Pope is only infallible in matters of faith, and prepares written discourse on such matters, typically to settle or salve a matter of faith that appears to have lattitude in interpretation, or of preferential nature to superseding doctrine.

Once a new Pope is elected, such would not be requested of the former, and any comment from the former whatsoever will have a final say from the then current Pontiff.

 

[TomD123]

I would think that a sitting Roman Pope could renounce any leadership that he actually HAD, nothing more.

But within the Roman Church, does Benedict XVI, at this late date, retain the authority to renounce the NEED for a successor to the Chair of Peter and the privileges of that office? Or would such a proclamation violate the “spirit” of the faith and morals clause?

No the Pope could not renounce the need for a Pope. Just like he could not get rid of the Priesthood or Eucharist or Scriptures etc.
Plus Vatican Council I declared Christ willed that Peter have perpetual successors till the end of time. I can get the quote if you want.

In the past 600 years, there has simply been no need to address the matter. But now, there is a sitting Pope who apparently has the authority to reconcile the Roman church with its own apostolic foundation and traditions,and with the Eastern churches that share the same foundation and traditions.

To tighten up this gaping loophole, the RCC would have to either establish the limits of “papal infallibility” or redefine the realm of “faith and morals” as it applies to a “lame duck” Pope in the last month of his Papacy. Either would require the work of a Council to preempt the possibility of a future Pope, in the last month of his Papacy, reconciling the RCC with Apostolic Christianity.

I don’t see why they need to restablsih anything…No tightening anything up. I don’t see why there would be a need? Nothing new here…

 

[Lancer]

One thing for sure…the Holy Spirit is leading the Church of Christ…and the Spirit blows where He wills…in other words…this is His timing and no matter how discomforting or disconcerting it is to us…it is another great call to Trust in the Lord and his faithfulness to his Son…and the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church…the Body of Christ. Its also a great call to pray unceasingly…for conversion and strengthening our Faith… Hope… Charity…during this gift of A Year of Faith.

I am saddened for those Catholics who don’t practice their faith…they don’t have much of an idea of what this really is all about) other than what they get from Reuters, New York Times, and CNN/MSNBC/Fox et. al…who are simply news organizations and journalists who practice “a journalism of pornography of sensationalism and ideology”…they are not as biased as much as they are simply lazy…they have no “fire in their belly” for getting at the heart and truth of this story…nor many other major events. We could sure use all those good members of the Body of Christ…who have fallen away from their Catholic Church…to practice their faith and pray with us for a deep conversion within the Church and in our Country and Western World.

Pax Christi

Habemus Papam, Still
By: Karl Keating

In the coming days there will be plenty of comments about Pope Benedict XVI’s stunning announcement. Some of those comments will appear in the Catholic Answers Blog. For now, let me make a few points:

1. Yes, popes can renounce the Petrine office. A few popes have done so, the most famous being St. Celestine V in 1296. (More on him another time.)

1. Benedict XVI hasn’t “resigned,” as that word commonly is used. A resignation implies informing one’s superior about one’s decision. A pope has no superior. In the Latin text available at the Vatican’s website, the word Benedict XVI uses is “renuntiare,” which means "renounce.

1. There is no protocol regarding titling for former popes. It isn’t known yet what the proper way to refer to Benedict XVI will be.

1. Some people already are bringing up the so-called Prophecy of St. Malachy, according to which (depending on one’s interpretation) there remains only one pope after Benedict XVI, a pope who will be known as Peter the Roman. Please keep in mind that the Church never has accepted this purported prophecy as true. It undoubtedly is a forgery. Supposedly the prophecy was made around 1139 by St. Malachy, but the prophecy was unknown until 1595 and seems to have been concocted to influence a papal election of that era. In other words, give no weight to it and derive no anxiety from it.

1. Just like you, the staff of Catholic Answers has no idea who might by elected by the upcoming conclave. Please don’t ask us to predict.

1. One thing we do know is that the selection of the next pope, like the selection of all previous popes, will be under the superintendence of the Holy Spirit, to whom we should give thanks for having provided us such a fine pope and from whom we should ask a worthy successor.
   catholic.com/blog/karl-keating/habemus-papam-still

Wonderful commentaries…newadvent.org/

Pax Christi

 

[JKirkLVNV]

At any rate, the Catholic Church embodies Apostolic Christianity. All other ecclesial communities need to be reconciled with us.

Just so.

A note to all wondering what Pope Benedict’s status will be. I don’t know if he will be regarded as a Cardinal or not (that is not a title used in the three fold ministry anyway, but an honorific to which certain rights, priviledges, and immunities are attached), but he is still a bishop.