Pope Benedict's decision to step down from the papacy last February 10, 2013 has reached all over the world, as believers and non-believers alike try to gauge the impact of this rare move.
His announcement took much of the world by surprise and sent the media into a frenzy. After all, it has been more than 600 years – since 1415, when Gregory XII resigned to bring to a temporary end the schism between Western and Eastern Christianity – that a pope had not died on the job.
1. Effectivity of his Resignation: “From 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, (2AM, Mar.1, 2013 Manila Time) 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.”
2. Reason for Resignation: The pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign. Fr. Lombardi, the Vatican Spokesperson, said “that sickness was not the reason that the Holy Father had decided to step down, it was as the Pope had said in his declaration, "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.”
3. A Well thought Decision. Fr. Lombardi said that it was not a decision that the Pope had made on the spur of the moment, it was a courageous decision, a mature choice. The decision was “several weeks in the making”, according to Vatican sources, even if it was taken in the utmost secrecy and only known by a few of the pope's closest collaborators.
4. Some Symbolic Gestures in the Past. Benedict must have contemplated this plan long before as manifested in some symbolic gestures he had in the past. On April 28, 2009, while visiting the earthquake-stricken city of L'Aquila in central Italy, he made sure to pay homage to the tomb of Pope Celestine V, a saintly hermit who became famous for resigning the papacy in 1294. Benedict stopped in silent prayer at Celestine's tomb and left there his own pallium – a liturgical vest he had received when he started his pontificate. On July 4, 2010, he went out his way again. This time to visit and pray in the Cathedral of Sulmona, near Rome, before the relics of same Saint, Celestive V.
5. Who is Pope Celestive V? Padre Pietro Angelerio, known by all as a devout and holy priest, was elected Poe in 1294, somewhat against his will, shortly before his 80th birthday. Just five months later, after issuing a formal decree allowing popes to resign, Pope Celestine V exercised that right.
6. Who were the other Popes who resigned before? The last pope to have resigned is Gregory XII who stepped down in 1415 as part of the negotiations at the Council of Constance during which there were two claimants to the papacy. Other popes who have resigned include Pontian in 235 AD; Silverius in 537. John XVIII is also believed to have resigned shortly before his death in 1009. Benedict IX abdicated in 1045 but then returned to office two years later though deposed the following year.
7. His Resignation as Gesture of Humility- Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano hailed as an “extraordinary gesture of humility,” the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He did so with “courage” and “freedom of spirit,” according to Fr. Lombardi. With his move, he definitely managed to attract praise and sympathy from the many quarters that had followed his eight-year pontificate with scepticism and even hostility. All recognized the hallmark of a millenia-old institution that comes to grips with modernity in Benedict's acknowledgment that “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 barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary.”
8. Impact of His Resignation. His last decision will probably be the one that will have the largest impact on the future of the Catholic Church, setting a precedent that future pope will find hard to ignore.
9. What Catholics Should Do as the Pope Resigns. According to the Pope Himself, “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.
10. Canonical Basis of His Resignation. The Pope used Canon 332, 2 as the basis for his resignation. The canon foresees the possibility that a Pope may resign. The canon points out that such resignation does not need to be accepted by anyone. It does specify that, for its validity, it must be freely made and properly manifested.
11. Where will he stay? Holy Father would not participate in the upcoming Conclave. Father Lombardi also said that the Pope would go to Castelgandolfo immediately after leaving office and following that he will live in a former cloistered monastery inside the Vatican. This is to secure his privacy and immunity for any possible lawsuits. This means he will remain as citizen and residence of Vatican.
12. Can he be called Pope Emeritus? Before becoming pope, Benedict was Cardinal Josef Ratzinger. Vatican-watchers debate whether he will return to using that title or will retain the "Pope" honorific in some form. "We lack a law, so far, on the status of a former pope, of someone who resigned the papacy," Msgr. David-Maria Jaeger, a professor of canon law at Rome’s Pontifical University Antonianum, said. "It is possible either Benedict XVI in the next few days, or his successor, will make such a law," Jaeger added, noting that "we are in uncharted waters." Yiftach Fehige, an associate professor at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, said that Benedict, "remains a retired archbishop with the title of cardinal, and will live a life accordingly. Vatican has suggested he may be called "emeritus bishop of Rome but not “Pope Emeritus."
13. Do we need to mention him in the Eucharistic Prayer: Based on the older liturgical manuals, e.g. GIRM 1965, the N, our Bishop, is omitted when episcopal see is vacant; same principle is observed during the vacancy of the Holy See in the words "N, our Pope".
14. When will the conclave take place?: The apostolic constitution governing the papal election, Universi dominici gregis, issued under John Paul II in 1996, specifies that the conclave must take place between 15 and 20 days after the beginning of the sede vacante, meaning the end of the previous papacy. Since Benedict's resignation becomes official on Feb. 28, that would mean a conclave starting somewhere between March 15 and 20. But, there is a possibility to have it earlier. The authorities who take control during an interregnum, meaning Cardinal Angelo Sodano as dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone as Camerlengo, could propose an early date for the conclave and then put it up for a vote among all the cardinals present in Rome on the first day of the sede vacante, meaning March 1. In terms of what that date might be, some believe that Sunday, March 10, is a good candidate. It's a Sunday, and the "Mass for Electing the Pope" could be celebrated that day along with an opening ballot, while the real work would begin Monday.
15. Who are the Authorities who will take control during the interregnum? According to Universi Dominici Gregis, the special laws enacted when the Roman See is vacant, no changes may be made to the government of the whole church. However, the authorities who will take control during the interregnum are Cardinal Sodano being the Dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Bertone being the Camerlengo. Cardinal Sodano will head the conclave. Cardinal Bertone, who, as "Camerlengo", manages the property and revenues of the Holy See.
16. Will he participate in the conclave? Pope Benedict will not join the cardinals in choosing the next pope, most of whom he appointed. The rules state that a cardinal has to be under 80 years old to take part in the conclave, and Benedict is 85.
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