Posted on 02/17/2013 7:06:13 PM PST by Salvation
You just looking for an out?...
Great response.
While it's true that Pope have resigned in the past, and there's no question whether it's possible for a Pope to step down (probably at least 5 or 6 have done) -- there is NO record of ANY Pope -- in the 2000 year history of the church, stepping down because of advanced age or fatigue. It's simply NOT done. (For similar reasons, the Queen of England, who is older than Benedict XVI, will never "retire" and will remain in office until she dies)
The last Pope to resign did so 600 years ago, and that was because there was a major crisis in the church and he needed to do so in order to end a schism and have a new Pope elected that all the warring factions would accept.
The Papacy is considered a lifetime job for the obvious reason that it would create a serious problem in the church if the "former" Pope and the "current" Pope were alive simultaneously and made conflicting statements about a current issue. I believe that's partially the reason the last Pope who stepped down because a voluntary prisoner of the Vatican and never made public appearances after stepping down. The Pope physically deteriorating or becoming very old and slow to respond has never been grounds for a Pope to "leave office". John Paul II suffered from advanced stages of Parkinson's and was in much worse physical shape than Benedict XVI towards the end of his reign, and never "retired" despite repeated calls from the secular media to do so. One pope in the 1700s continued to reign even though he was physically bedridden and blind for the last 10 years of his papacy.
If the Pope had suffered an extreme medical condition that left him completed unable to function (say a major stroke), THAT might be grounds to break with tradition and have him resign because the office would be defacto vacant as long as he remained alive, but that hasn't happened in this case. Benedict XVI's mind is fully functional, he is not an invalid, and has not been diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, etc., and there is claim from the Vatican or speculation that he's "dying" (and if he was "dying", he wouldn't resign but would rather inform the Cardinals of the situations so they could stand by to arrange a conclave once he did pass away). The only statement from the Vatican is he feels too old and fatigued to carry on.
I think this sets a very bad precedent for future Popes, if they can just "retire" because they're past 65 and feel tired, future Popes could treat the "job" the same they would a secular institution.
There’s a disease that eats away at one’s body. A person at our church had it. He was fine and could walk. Next time I saw him he was on crutches.
Then he was using a walker and eventually ended up in a wheelchair before his body was totally riddled by this disease.
Could something like this be happening. If I remember correctly, this disease eats away at either the muscles or the nerves.
As I said above, the tailors were having a difficult time downsizing his vestments and keeping up with his loss of weight.
Puzzling.
Anyone know what it is called?
As far as I can tell he was the 5th oldest Pope at his election in 2005, the fourth oldest one was elected in 1730. If he passed today he would be the fourth oldest Pope ever. Out of 265.
Freegards
Why the Pope certainly CAN leave step down, stepping down under these circumstances is a huge break with the 2000 tradition of the Catholic Church and the understanding that the papacy is a lifetime job in all but the most extreme of circumstances. Many Popes is far worst physical shape than Benedict XVI continued to reign.
The Pope has that much influence on your faith?
That’s like saying you won’t use a product you’ve used for 50 years, because the current CEO left before his contract was up.
The product is the same.
Your local Bishop has more say about what goes on in your church than the guy in Rome.
While the Pope certainly CAN leave step down, stepping down under these circumstances is a huge break with the 2000 year old tradition of the Catholic Church and the understanding that the papacy is a lifetime job in all but the most extreme of circumstances. Many Popes is far worse physical shape than Benedict XVI continued to reign.
I’m not arguing with you. I just think there is a lot we don’t know.
I totally agree, SuziQ...
I agree. I think there is more to this story behind the scenes. I am troubled by Catholics who are so casual to applaud the Pope’s resignation and dismiss it as “oh well, he was getting older, let him enjoy his retirementâ€. Tradition should not be taken lightly in the Catholic Church and dismissed on a whim.
((((Hugs))))Easy to say but look to The eternal Christ.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/17/us-pope-resignation-appearance-idUSBRE91G04J20130217”Peter Seewald, a German journalist who wrote a book with the pope in 2010 in which Benedict first floated the possibility of resigning, visited him again about 10 weeks ago.
“His hearing had deteriorated. He couldn’t see with his left eye. His body had become so thin that the tailors had difficulty in keeping up with newly fitted clothes ... I’d never seen him so exhausted-looking, so worn down,” Seewald said.”
((((Hugs))))
Your right BillyBoy,
but he said he was under spiritual attack too and asking for our prayers.
“The pope has said his physical and spiritual forces are no longer strong enough to sustain him in the job of leading the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics at a time of crisis for the Church in a fast-changing world.”
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/17/us-pope-resignation-appearance-idUSBRE91G04J20130217
There is no written rule about the length of a Pope's term in the office. That most of the Popes in history have stayed in the office until their deaths doesn't mean that is the requirement for everyone who serves. The Pope is not the Church, he is simply the servant who happens to be the head of the world's Catholics. Pope Benedict realized that his health was failing and that being the leader would require much more strength than he had, and staying in the office would be detrimental to the work of the Church.
You are correct. There is also no written rule that the Pope must come from the college of Cardinals (it's simply been an unbroken tradition since the 1300s) or even that the Pope must be ordained clergy (it's simply been an unbroken tradition for 2000 years). In theory, they could name me, a lay Catholic, as the next Pontiff. But even though it's totally permissible under the code of canon law to do so, that would create outrage, since it would be a total disregard for Catholic tradition.
In short, just because the Church or a Pope CAN do something, doesn't mean they should. I don't like to see an old man struggling to carry on his duties as Pope anymore than you do. It's unfortunate than many Popes physically deteriorate. But Christ bore the cross for hours, and JP II bore the papacy under much greater physical detriment than Benedict. It is a testament to Popes who carried on this tradition.
I accept Benedict XVI's right to step down, but I disagree with it and I am deeply saddened to see him to do so. The seat of Peter is not like a secular job where one just "retires"
Consider for a moment that perhaps Pope Benedict is wiser than you or I and that his judgement is better than yours or mine.
I don't think that requires too great a stretch.
Do you think he’s being selfish, that he doesn’t care as much for the Church as you do, that he doesn’t appreciate the importance of his actions as much as you do, that he doesn’t understand tradition and the office of Peter as well as you, or that he’s just not smart enough to see it as you do?
I know, these are rhetorical questions. Aren’t they?
The Papacy is only an office, it is not a Sacrament. When one accepts the office, one acquires all of the authority that comes with it, including the ability to teach infallibly on matters of Faith and Morals. If one relinquishes the office, the authority goes to the next bishop who accepts the office. The Holy Spirit will never be confused about who rightly holds the office.
This is highly unusual to be sure, but not unprecedented. Things regarding the “end of days” seem to be happening with more frequency. If the next bishop to take the Chair of Peter has “Peter” as a first or last name, or as his papal name, we will all be wondering if St. Malachy’s prophecy is complete.
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