Transcribed from George Weigel’s interview on NBC News this morning:
It’s a surprise, obviously. This hasn’t happened since 1296, which is 717 years ago . . . The pope then was Pope Celestine V. He was 85 years old, too, so there’s an interesting historical symmetry here.
Pope Benedict XVI has said on numerous public occasions including his most recent interview book that were he to come to the judgment that he did not have the physical stamina left to give the church the leadership it deserved, that he would abdicate.
I think that is frankly the word in this occasion. A resignation is something that someone hands to someone else. Popes have no one to resign to, so this is an abdication. He has said that he would consider this. I am sure that he considered it thoughtfully and prayerfully.
It is obviously unprecedented, but I think we’ve all had the sense, both from the realities of a world where people live much longer than before and from the pope’s words, that this was a real possibility.
I find the timing of this somewhat surprising since the pope is leading the church right now through what he calls a year of faith, a special year devoted to the theological virtue of faith, the proclamation of Christian faith throughout the world. I had thought, and I believe we discussed this with our colleagues at NBC, that were he to abdicate that might come logically at the end of this year.
February 11th, 2013 | 8:30 am
Once again, news media , etc , will quote what is convenient for making articles and such intriguing…
“…. The last pope to resign was Gregory XII, who left the papacy in 1415 to end what was known as the Western Schism…”
February 11th, 2013 | 8:53 am
I am curious to know if the pope will have a vote for his successor
February 11th, 2013 | 9:28 am
Pope Gregory XII resigned in 1415. He was then appointed Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum and Frascati and Dean of the Sacred College. He died two years later.
February 11th, 2013 | 10:21 am
I am curious to know if the pope will have a vote for his successor.
John,
Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, so being 85, even though Benedict remains a member of the College of Cardinals, he will be ineligible to vote.
February 11th, 2013 | 10:40 am
Canon 332.2 uses the word “resign,” not “abdicate.”
February 11th, 2013 | 3:43 pm
Why is the timing surprising? We are about to enter Lent, a time of mourning and repenting of our sins. Then comes Easter, by which time we should have a new pope. A time of rebirth and renewal. I think he may have timed it purposely.
February 11th, 2013 | 7:15 pm
I think it may very well be the most brilliant decision of Benedict — as formidable as the challenges are — Benedicts has created exceptional momentum for the Church and it is an excellent time to hand off and begin to solely pray for the advancement and enhancement of the catechesis and teachings — God bless our Pope and our Pope to be —
February 12th, 2013 | 10:38 am
Mr. Weigel,a respected Catholic scholar,has identified Pope Celestine V as the last to “resign” (“abdicate”) and a couple of readers have rushed forth to correct him in the assertion that the last pope to do this was supposed to have been Gregory XII.Perhaps it is a matter of semantics to the extent that the abdication of Gregory XII was not entirely voluntary, some historians would describe it as a forced abdication.At minimum it was the result,to large extent, of the coercive powers of the cardinals at the Council of Constance.
February 12th, 2013 | 10:46 am
To SDG, the Latin word in Canon 332.2 is “renuntiet”, which is translated (poorly) into the English as resign.
February 12th, 2013 | 12:07 pm
I was saddened to hear of the Pope’s resignation, however, Our Lord has said he will not leave us orphans. Pope Benedict is such an orthodox teacher. Never giving way to the whims of liberal catholics. He will be missed. It’s all in God’s plan. Jesus I trust in you.
February 12th, 2013 | 2:14 pm
I believe the Pope Benedict XVI speech at Regensburg University will prove most prophetic. Islam is antithetical to Christianity. Expecting mutual respect from them is like expecting compromise between good and evil. That should be anathema.
February 15th, 2013 | 12:44 pm
Denying the inherent essence of the human person created in The Image and Likeness of God, equal in Dignity, while being complementary as male and female to live in Loving relationship in communion with God as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters…is anathema, and thus anti Christ.
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