Posted on 10/21/2017 10:31:18 AM PDT by Sean_Anthony
With all the controversy that surrounded the election of Pope Francis upon the resignation of Pope Benedict in 2013, it seems that Catholics may have lost sight of a key element in this episode, namely, that Benedict XVI never resigned his papal office, but only the active exercise thereof.
On the eve of his resignation, he said: “Anyone who accepts the Petrine ministry no longer has any privacy. He belongs always and completely to everyone, to the whole Church… “The ‘always’ is also a “forever”—there can no longer be a return to the private sphere. My decision to resign the active exercise of the ministry does not revoke this.” (General Audience, February 27, 2013)
According to these words, Benedict XVI remains pope, with no revocation of his office having occurred. According to Church law, a pope must give up “his office” for his resignation to be valid. (Canon 332) Pope Benedict clearly chose to retain his office “forever,” which means he is still pope, which means that Francis cannot be pope, since there cannot be two popes. The late Fatima expert Fr. Nicholas Gruner points this out in a rare video on Benedict XVI’s resignation. If Francis is the pope, then Benedict’s office is revoked, but Benedict insists it was not revoked.
I find your blog pimping troubling.
Why do you consider CFP a blog? Or is any publication online a blog in yours and your compatriot’s eyes?
“Pope Benedict clearly chose to retain his office “forever,” which means he is still pope, which means that Francis cannot be pope, since there cannot be two popes. ”
Not the first time in history there were multiple popes:
At least this time they are not condemning each other to hell, or selling church offices, or other worse crimes.
Or selling out the church to islam...
*sigh*
I am a Catholic, but not educated in Cannon law. These are my concerns:
Why doesn’t Pope Benedict “pope”? I’ve heard Francis called a black pope. Was Pope Benedict forced out of office?
What about the Irishman who had accurately predicted popes until St. JPII? He predicted that there would be one pope after St JPII, and then couldn’t see any more.
Unfortunately, I don’t know the answers to your good questions.
More importantly, eternal life is in Christ’s gift alone.
He never changes.
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