CATHOLICS more than 1.2 billion people round the world – would be astounded to learn Pope Benedict XVI resigned. They would have great reasons to fall into this flux.
The last resignation of a pope was 598 years ago – none
of today’s Catholics was around then. The most important would be the
infallibility of the Pope; many do not see the Pope in human terms.
Circumstances of that resignation are barely ennobling
for the church to mention them. No Pope has resigned in modern times, and the
last one to leave the post was Pope Gregory XII on July 4, 1415 – 598 years
ago.
Who will be next Pope?—Cardinals likely to succeed Pope Benedict XVI.
Top row from left: Argentine Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio; Mexican
Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera; Brazilian Joao Braz de Aviz;
Philippines’ Luis Antonio Tagle; Ghanaian Peter Turkson. Bottom row from
left: Italian Angelo Scola; Canadian Marc Ouellet; Nigerian Francis
Arinze; Nigerian John Onaiyekan, and USA’s Timothy Dolan. AFP PHOTO.
Who will be next Pope?—Cardinals likely to succeed Pope
Benedict XVI. Top row from left: Argentine Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio;
Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera; Brazilian Joao Braz de Aviz;
Philippines’ Luis Antonio Tagle; Ghanaian Peter Turkson. Bottom row from left:
Italian Angelo Scola; Canadian Marc Ouellet; Nigerian Francis Arinze; Nigerian
John Onaiyekan, and USA’s Timothy Dolan. AFP PHOTO.
He resigned following conflicts in the church that
resulted in the election of three popes – Gregory XII in Rome, Benedict XIII in
Avignon, in modern day France and John XXIII in Pisa, Italy.
“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,” Benedict XVI, the first German pope
in 1,000 years, said in a statement that highlights the humanity of the Pope,
but would assail most Catholics who are sold on the infallibility of the Pope,
often mistaking it for the Pope not falling to human frailties.
Petrine is a widely held Catholic reference and belief that
popes came from a long line of succession traced to Apostle Peter, the man
Jesus Christ anointed His successor more than 2,000 years ago.
Papal infallibility was promulgated at the First Vatican
Council in 1870. It states, “Faithfully adhering to the tradition received
from the beginning of the Christian faith … we teach and define that it is a
dogma divinely revealed that the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra,
that is when in discharge of the office of pastor and teacher of all
Christians, by virtue of his supreme Apostolic authority, he defines a doctrine
regarding faith and morals to be held by the universal Church, by the divine
assistance promised him in Blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility
with which the Divine Redeemer willed that His Church should be endowed for
defining doctrine regarding faith and morals; and that, therefore, such
definitions of the Roman Pontiffs are irreformable of themselves, and not from
the consent of the Church.”
Infallibility has been stretched to make the Pope seem
above human frailties such that it has ensconced the church and the papacy,
saving both from conflicts that riddled the early church.
Benedict’s decision should be accepted for its boldness
and his courage, at a time most would have carried on till death. He has,
however, thrown the church into new “tradition”.
A new pope would be elected with a former pope living.
How would they relate to each other? Would the College of Cardinals recommend a
retirement age for popes? We are again at the early ages of an old church.
At 85, Pope Benedict the XVI has taken a decision that
none of his predecessors who died in office would have contemplated. John Paul
II, who he succeeded, died at 85 and he lived out his final years with public
attention on his failing health.
For a church steeped in tradition, Benedict XVI has added
another chapter to the papacy.
By Ikeddy ISIGUZO, Chairman Editorial Board
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