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

[Rhys82192]

How sad! I pray for His Holiness! :'(

 

[Lumutqueen]

Now that's one job I didn't think you could resign from.

 

[Artemisia]

A pope can resign and it has actually happened several times before.

Pope Benedict XVI to Resign on February 28

Pope Benedict XVI will resign on February 28. Shortly after news surfaced, Vatican released Papal Declaration announcing Benedict XVI’s decision. Unusual as the announcement may seem, Papal resignations are actually nothing new. It is part of the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Easter Churches. The only condition is that the decision must be made freely and be manifested in a proper way. There are plenty of precedents too.

Pope Benedict IX was apparently the first Pope to resign his position; he did it for less than savoury reasons though – for financial gain (incidentally, he became Pope again after one of his successors resigned as well, and the other died). The last Pope to resign was Gregory XII. His reasons were rather more noble: he wanted to end the Western Schism – a point in history when there three claimants to the Papal Throne, namely Gregory XII (Roman Pope), Benedict XIII (Avignon Antipope), and John XXIII (Pisan Antipope).

 

[Kataryn]

His health is not very good, hasn't been for quite some time. He is a man rather simple in his wishes of life and has always voiced the wish to retire at 80 to his and his brother's house in Regensburg, Germany, to spend his last days there in peace and prayer with his brother Georg who is himself a priest.

When he was elected pope at 78, he took over the office and tried to give the Church long-needed impulses. Alas, he is not really a man of this day and age, maybe never was, so surely has suffered from his office through these last years. On acknowledging that he is not longer able to fulfill his duties, he will retire. Good for him! I wish him some more years together with his brother, he deserves them.

 

[lucien]

Vatican Radio - Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation at end of month

Full text of Pope's declaration

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 bark 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

I think it a very wise and also very brave decision by His Holiness,absolutely!As a (choosen-) Monarch he thought it wiser to step down and give new opportunities in conjunction with this time and age a chance instead of holding on to the Santa Sede.

The procedure to elect a new Pope will be the same as usual.Tha Cardinals below the age of 80 will gather in the Sixtine Chapel for their conclave in which they will elect a new Pope,until then we have a Sede Vacante situation we haven't seen...well,none of us has as it is not since Gregory XIV in 1415 that a Pontifex Maximus resigned.

Quite a decision,and quite an impact.

 

[Jacknch]

An historic moment we are witnessing and once again we will see the traditions of the Vatican as a new pope will be elected. I am glad though that the circumstances are not through Benedict's death and I do hope very much that he will be able to spend many years of quiet prayer as is his wish.
2013 has started out in quite an extraordinary way with an abdication and a resignation with a conclave, consecration and inauguration all to come! Historic days indeed!

 

[Kit]

My respect for this decision! A very brave and wise decision to openly admit he is no longer capable to fulfill his duties as pope.

 

[Dman]

Well, that was a very brave of him to admit he's getting older and can no longer carry out his duties as Pope.

Why are older Popes are elected anyway? Shouldn't there be a younger person considered for the job?

 

[NGalitzine]

Well when his doctors advised against more travel ,and his brother says the Pope is having trouble just walking, clearly his physical health is not up to the task. Hopefully the Cardinals will elect someone more in tune with the 21st century although that is probably wishful thinking when it comes to the Vatican.
I wonder what becomes of an ex-Pope. Does he simply go back to live with his brother in Germany or does he retire to a monastery? Is he still a Prince of the Church or merely a retired priest?

 

[NGalitzine]

Well, that was a very brave of him to admit he's getting older and can no longer carry out his duties as Pope.

Why are older Popes are elected anyway? Shouldn't there be a younger person considered for the job?

Well "younger" is a relative term when it comes to the Cardinals. I suspect they do not want someone who will reign for decades so electing someone of a certain age limits that possibility.

 

[Queen Penelope]

I hope his holiness is able to enjoy his retirement. It couldn't have been an easy decision. I wonder if he will be an advisor of sorts to the next Pontiff?

 

[lucien]

I hope his holiness is able to enjoy his retirement. It couldn't have been an easy decision. I wonder if he will be an advisor of sorts to the next Pontiff?

No I don't think so Penelope,he will retire from all of it.He will go to Castel Gandolfo for a while after februarry 28th and then move to a monastary in Rome,or near Rome.

PPE Agency

The announcement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzAC5tGJ_Nk&feature=player_embedded

 

[Dman]

Well "younger" is a relative term when it comes to the Cardinals. I suspect they do not want someone who will reign for decades so electing someone of a certain age limits that possibility.

Oh, I just think that's a big job for a person to take on. I'm not catholic but I do think electing a young Cardinal, who can handle the burden of the job is best.

 

[Jacknch]

Well when his doctors advised against more travel ,and his brother says the Pope is having trouble just walking, clearly his physical health is not up to the task. Hopefully the Cardinals will elect someone more in tune with the 21st century although that is probably wishful thinking when it comes to the Vatican.
I wonder what becomes of an ex-Pope. Does he simply go back to live with his brother in Germany or does he retire to a monastery? Is he still a Prince of the Church or merely a retired priest?

Accordingly to what the BBC News site has said, Father Lombardi says following an initial peiod at the papal residence, Benedict will move into a monastery of cloistered nuns inside the Vatican for a period of prayer and reflection.
I am guessing that he will revert to whatever position he would be in had he simply retired as a Cardinal Bishop (assuming Bishops reture, I'm rather confused now!)

 

[Al_bina]

Pope Benedict XVI stepped down| Spletnik.ru

It is a wise decision of Benedict's XVI side to step down due to frailty. His Holiness was honest with congregation of the Roman Catholic church. Hopefully he will enjoy his retirement.

 

[Cory]

We should all pray for the Holy Father in these moments! We should also thank the Lord for this wonderful Pontificate.

 

[Cory]

The Pope's Legacy | America Magazine

 

[An Ard Ri]

I never anticipated that the Holy Father would step down,it will be interesting to see who is elected the next spiritual leader of the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

 

[HRHHermione]

Good. He was not a man whose vision for the church was something I found admirable. Perhaps now the church can find someone who is more focused on the great tradition of Catholic social justice and less concerned with the private acts of consenting adults,

I'd love to see a pope who recognizes that the church must adapt to survive and that correspondingly acts to make a more inclusive church.

 

[NGalitzine]

We should all pray for the Holy Father in these moments! We should also thank the Lord for this wonderful Pontificate.

What exactly was wonderful about his pontificate? It was certainly marred by the priest pedophile scandals in several countries and the Churchs reaction to the scandal was nothing to praise. Benedict was a very traditional and very conservative Pope out of step with the changing world even by the standards of the RC Church, even going so far to call for investigation of American nuns because they were not considered Conservative enough by Vatican standards. IMO I can find nothing praise worthy in his papacy other than it was short.

 

[NGalitzine]

I never anticipated that the Holy Father would step down,it will be interesting to see who is elected the next spiritual leader of the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics.

Perhaps a non-European? Maybe someone from Latin America?

 

[Sancia]

Good. He was not a man whose vision for the church was something I found admirable. Perhaps now the church can find someone who is more focused on the great tradition of Catholic social justice and less concerned with the private acts of consenting adults,

I'd love to see a pope who recognizes that the church must adapt to survive and that correspondingly acts to make a more inclusive church.

Actually, Benedict XVI focused a lot on social justice and on ecology. He spoke a lot of criticism against the (ultra-)liberalism and the consumer society, against the destruction of environment. The medias would rather speak about sexuality than about all the speeches he made about Catholic social justice, which are very many.

 

[An Ard Ri]

Perhaps a non-European? Maybe someone from Latin America?

That's what I was thinking,Latin America or Africa perhaps....my wild card is Ireland (highly unlikely) .

 

[NGalitzine]

Good. He was not a man whose vision for the church was something I found admirable. Perhaps now the church can find someone who is more focused on the great tradition of Catholic social justice and less concerned with the private acts of consenting adults,

I'd love to see a pope who recognizes that the church must adapt to survive and that correspondingly acts to make a more inclusive church.

I totally agree. It would be nice also if the new Pope did not go out of his way to offend people of other faiths, including Jews and Muslims. Benedict will not be considered a great success when it comes to reaching out to people and healng wounds.

 

[Al_bina]

That's what I was thinking,Latin America or Africa perhaps....my wild card is Ireland (highly unlikely) .

Perhaps it is time for an Italian cardinal. Do we have any information on possible candidates? Bookmakers hint that Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria may become the next Pontiff.

 

[NGalitzine]

That's what I was thinking,Latin America or Africa perhaps....my wild card is Ireland (highly unlikely) .

I can see someone from Latin America but the African church seems to be on the extreme right. Amongst the Europeans I rather like the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna who seems quite moderate but not sure of his age.

 

[HRHHermione]

Actually, Benedict XVI focused a lot on social justice and on ecology. He spoke a lot of criticism against the (ultra-)liberalism and the consumer society, against the destruction of environment. The medias would rather speak about sexuality than about all the speeches he made about Catholic social justice, which are very many.

His condemnation of the American group of nuns whose focus is specifically on social justice irked me and for me, was a defining moment for a pope I never cared for in any way. We can agree to disagree here though, since this board probably doesn't need to devolve into an argument. Personally, I'm just thrilled he's stepping aside and I wish him a quiet retirement. I hope whoever is next is someone with vision and someone who works towards a more inclusive church.

 

[Lumutqueen]

I can see someone from Latin America but the African church seems to be on the extreme right. Amongst the Europeans I rather like the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna who seems quite moderate but not sure of his age.

Here's a list that's circulating a few news articles;

9/4 Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 64
Country: Ghana Cardinal in the Ghanaian Catholic Church
Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Would like to see a black pope. Believes condoms should be used in marriage if one partner is infected with Aids.

5/2 Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 68
Country: Canada
Elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Belief that abortion is unjustifiable, even in cases of rape


7/2 Cardinal Francis Arinze, 80
Country: Nigeria
Elevated to cardlinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Extreme conservatism on birth control and abortion


7/1 Cardinal Angelo Scola, 71
Country: Italy
Elevated to become Archbishop of Milan by Benedict XVI
Significant views: Wants to work more closely with Islam and support Christians in the Middle East

10/1 Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, 70
Country: Honduras
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: A moderate but is anti-abortion and criticised Ricky Martin for using a surrogate mother

12/1 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 78
Country: Italy
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope John Paul II
Significant views: Blamed homosexual infiltration of the clergy for Catholic child sex scandals

14/1 Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 70
Country: Italy
Elevated to cardinalate by Pope Benedict XVI
Significant views: Strongly against abortion and expressed anger towards same-sex unions

16/1 Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 77
Country: Argentina
Elevated to cardinalate by John Paul II
Significant views: Against abortion and euthanasia, is against same-sex marriage but calls for respect of gay people. Washed the feet of 12 Aids patients in 2001.

20/1 Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 69
Country: Argentina
Elevated to cardinalate by Benedict XVI
Significant views: Said Christians in Iraq under Saddam Hussein were more free than they are now

25/1 Cardinal Christoph von Schonborn, 68
Country: Austria
Elevated to cardinalate by John Paul II
Significant views: Said use of a condom by an Aids sufferer could be seen as a 'lesser evil'.

I'm very surprised at the seemingly 'rushed' nature. Some press are calling this mornings announcement as 'shambolic' because barely anyone knew what was actually going on.

Cardinal Bergoglio or Cardinal Scola seem 'sensible'.

 

[Al_bina]

Thanks for the list. It is nice to see relatively young Italian cardinals in it. Cardinal Angelo Scola seems to be a nice candidate.

 

[Kit]

Cardinal Schönborn has already given an interview today on ORF in which he spoke about his surprise about the pope's retirement. He was also asked if he would accept if the vote were in his favour. He refused to answer that question. However I do not think Cardinal Schönborn will be elected. He is a moderate traditionalist and very respected in Austria. Nevertheless I think it will be an Italian Cardinal.