Vatican City State: Pope Benedict XVI, January 2006 - February 2013

[An Ard Ri]

Benedict XVI thanks Curia for their help in eight years as pontiff

Benedict XVI thanks Curia for their help in eight years as pontiff - YouTube

[An Ard Ri]

Benedict XVI bids farewell to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano

Benedict XVI bids farewell to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano - YouTube

[An Ard Ri]

The Holy Father earlier today in Rome


Spotted Polish,Spanish,Mexican,Irish and Croatian flags in the crowd.

Benedict XVI: I am not abandoning the Church - YouTube

[NGalitzine]

BBC News - Cardinal Keith O'Brien misses Sunday Mass after accusations

Seems as if stories of sex and the Roman Catholic Church just go hand in hand. The Cardinal Archbishop of Edinburgh & St Andrews is accused of inappropriate behaviour with priests and the Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles was removed from his diocese over allegations he helped priest abusers avoid detection. Both men will however be able to cast their votes for the new Pope.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

BBC News - Cardinal Keith O'Brien misses Sunday Mass after accusations

Seems as if stories of sex and the Roman Catholic Church just go hand in hand. The Cardinal Archbishop of Edinburgh & St Andrews is accused of inappropriate behaviour with priests and the Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles was removed from his diocese over allegations he helped priest abusers avoid detection. Both men will however be able to cast their votes for the new Pope.

Not so much that they're able and welcome in Rome,but it is obligatory for all Cardinals under 80 to attend the Conclave,all of 'm.Regardless actions and petitions in the US,Belgium and whereever for their ( former-) Cardinals & Archbishops to stay away.
That is not valid to the Rules on the Conclave,so,they all have to attend.

But lets focus on the Abdication of the Pontifex Maximus,not on the inability of the Church,and Benedict,to fight this whole issue properly...Too many in the Church have had too much to deal with in this respect.

After this,the abdication and election,we will start a thread dedicated to abuse among protestants,the islam and judaism and prep schools, Eton and what not.....Just in case some might think only catholics are able to such actions...nah...don't think so...I think we open a can of wurms there then that is larger then life....A snake-pit of sorts...But maybe,I think,such an issue isn't fitting a Royal Forum,just my two cents...There is soo much on that all over the web already.Or maybe a thread in that respect could be opened somewhere else within TRF

I think it proper maybe that this week,at least,is solely dedicated to the last days of Benedict XVI as Pontiff of 1,2 Billion Roman Catholics and Monarch of The Vatican and that he deemed himself as too old and too frail to lead the Church as one in his position should.A major shift towards reality-bites from the Vatican if there ever was one,and one I for one applaud.

Thank you for the videos here An Ard Ri!!

[An Ard Ri]

Benedict XVI prays his last Angelus in St. Peter's Square

Benedicto XVI reza su último ángelus en la Plaza de San Pedro - YouTube

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by lucien

Not so much that they're able and welcome in Rome,but it is obligatory for all Cardinals under 80 to attend the Conclave,all of 'm.Regardless actions and petitions in the US,Belgium and whereever for their ( former-) Cardinals & Archbishops to stay away.
That is not valid to the Rules on the Conclave,so,they all have to attend.

Apparently not so obligatory after all. The Archbishop of Edinburgh & St Andrews has announced that his resignation has been accepted by the Pope and that he will not be attending the conclave to elect the new Pope.

In other news Benedict has apparently changed the conclave rules which may allow it to start earlier than the planned March 15th start date.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

Apparently not so obligatory after all. The Archbishop of Edinburgh & St Andrews has announced that his resignation has been accepted by the Pope and that he will not be attending the conclave to elect the new Pope.

In other news Benedict has apparently changed the conclave rules which may allow it to start earlier than the planned March 15th start date.

It would have been obligatory if he had not resigned with the immediate effect that by announcing this he places himself out of the line of those who can take part in the election let alone be elected.

Yes,he announced something in that order last week,to take steps to pull the Conclave forward,good.

[An Ard Ri]

Benedict XVI decides to keep Vatileaks report secret

Benedict XVI decides to keep Vatileaks report secret, available only to next Pope - YouTube

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by lucien

It would have been obligatory if he had not resigned with the immediate effect that by announcing this he places himself out of the line of those who can take part in the election let alone be elected.

Yes,he announced something in that order last week,to take steps to pull the Conclave forward,good.

He resigned as Archbishop. He remains a Cardinal and is under the age of 80 so is eligible to be an elector. It is his decision not to participate on the Conclave.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by NGalitzine

He resigned as Archbishop. He remains a Cardinal and is under the age of 80 so is eligible to be an elector. It is his decision not to participate on the Conclave.

They always remain Cardinal,that is a title for life,but to resign posts and thus officially being in Emeritaat,fences one off of all obligations as per immediatly.His choice..or better:in this case he has to..There's always the odd exception...and the reason for him doing so is neither odd nor exception...but rather a painfull reality-bite.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Shelo

After his abdication, will his title revert to Cardinal Ratzinger? Will he have an honorary title (Pope Emeritus, for example)?

Actually he will have that title yes,Pope Emeritus and he will retain the title His Holiness as well and will be dressed in white as Popes traditionally do.His Papal ring however will be destroyed,the Ring of the Fisherman,as is tradition also after the passing,or in this case abdication,of a Pope.

There have been a few meetings in the Vatican as their actually are no rules for Popes who Abdicate.The above is the result of those meetings as was just announced this morning.

[An Ard Ri]

Pope breaks with tradition by stepping down

Pope breaks with tradition by stepping down - YouTube

[Dman]

I think it's all down to prophecy being fulfilled.

[An Ard Ri]

Benedict XVI's title will be 'H.H.Pope Emeritus' and he will continue to wear white.

Benedict XVI's title will be 'Pope Emeritus' and he will continue to wear white - YouTube

[An Ard Ri]

Thousands go to St. Peter's Square to say farewell and thank you to the Pope.

Thousands go to St. Peter's Square to say farewell and thank you to the Pope - YouTube

[An Ard Ri]

Pope says farewell to the world in his last general audience


Lots of Bavarian flags waving proudly,also spotted some French,Brazilian,Slovakian,German,Portuguese,American,Mexican and Spanish.

Pope says farewell to the world in his last general audience - YouTube

[principessa]

It was a very emotional but wonderful audience of His Holiness. May he be blessed with health and joy after tomorrow.

[lucien]

Incredible 150.000 attended todays,last,public audience by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by lucien

Incredible 150.000 attended todays,last,public audience by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Wow that was really some turn out,the Holy Father looked very frail and tired.