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The last pope to resign was Gregory XII in the 15th
century.
Church law does allow for a pope to resign — if he is of
sound mind and not forced out by fear or fraud. Under canon law, if a pope
chooses to resign, no one is allowed to tell him he can't.According to the Vatican, John Paul II had secret letters, in
1989 and in 1994, offering to resign if he were too incapacitated to fulfill
his ministry.Pope Benedict said in Light
of the World, a collection of
interviews with a German journalist, that a pope should resign if he
"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."
But if it is simply a staggering burden to be pope, Benedict
said, "One must stand fast and endure the situation. That is my view. One
can resign at a peaceful moment or when one simply cannot go on. But one must
not run away from danger and say someone else should do it."
The last pope to resign was Gregory XII in the 15th century. And
the most infamous may have been Pope Celestine V who quit in 1294. "Dante
placed him in hell for it," says political scientist and Vatican expert
Rev. Thomas Reese.
Popes who have resigned — often during times of political
turmoil:
1.
Pontian (230-235). Allegedly resigned after being exiled to
the mines of Sardinia.
2.
Marcellinus (296-304). Abdicated or was deposed after complying
with Roman Emperor Diocletian's order to offer sacrifice to pagan gods.
3.
Martin I (649-655). Exiled by Emperor Constans II to Crimea.
4.
Benedict V (964). Elected after the assassination of the
prior pope, he was pushed out a month later, by the emperor, who favored a
different candidate.
5.
Benedict IX (1032-45). Resigned after selling
the papacy to his godfather Gregory VI.
6.
Gregory VI (1045-46). Deposed by Henry III for simony (selling
church pardons and offices).
7.
Celestine V (1294). A hermit, elected at age 80 and overwhelmed
by the office, resigned. He was imprisoned by his successor.
8.
Gregory XII (1406-15). Resigned to help end the
Great Western Schism when there were multiple rival popes.
Sources: Rev. Thomas Reese, Papal Transition; Patrick
Granfield, Papal Resignation(1978)
and J. N. D. Kelly, The Oxford
Dictionary of Popes (1986).
POPE SPEECH
Dear Brothers,
I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonisations, 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 steer the ship 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 recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil 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.
POPE IN PICTURES
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