WTF? Pope about to resign?!

[Ben Kenobi]

Benedict made it pretty clear back in 2010 that a Pope had the right and duty to resign if he felt he was unable to carry on. I remember the story of that interview where it was made into a big deal that he would even consider it. I think it is the best thing for the Church if he is infirm. The Church needs a dynamic leader in this day and age and Benedict recognizes this fact. This is a truly selfless act in my opinion.

Personally I disagree. I would love to have him Pope however long God intends. But, it is his decision. He shall be missed.

[PLATO]

I would love to have him Pope however long God intends.

Apparently he made this decision after much prayer. It seems God revealed his intention.

[Dr Strangelove]

So who's next? Any particular front runners?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Traditionally, a resigning Pope is promptly murdered. How much has the Catholic church modernised?

[regexcellent]

Traditionally, a resigning Pope is promptly murdered. How much has the Catholic church modernised?

Well he is in Italy so maybe we can hope that some Godfather type **** will go down?

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Apparently he made this decision after much prayer. It seems God revealed his intention.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I will say that while I disagreed with him on a ton of things (and don't know just how far he is implicated in the child sex scandels), I admired this Pope for some of the controversial stances he did take. He was rabidly anti-war, anti-consumerism (and anti-free market capitalism), pro-environment, and very pro-dialogue with other religious groups (in fact he got in trouble for seemingly praying with Muslims). I also thought his views on God as love and the beauty of the divine to be very inspiring. I also thought that Benedict's views on the co-existence of faith and science were very good as well.

There is a lot of good to be found in Benedict's reign as Pope (along with the bad).

[Uncle Sparky]

Traditionally, a resigning Pope is promptly murdered. How much has the Catholic church modernised?

Its been 500 years since a pope resigned, Gregory (6th?) and that was during a schism. You cannot have a Pope and an ex-pope alive at the same time because both are infallible, or are Catholics admitting that is bs? Or are they going to do to him as they did to Pope John Paul I?

[Ben Kenobi]

You cannot have a Pope and an ex-pope alive at the same time because both are infallible, or are Catholics admitting that is bs?

The Pope, Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful."402 "For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his office as Vicar of Christ, and as pastor of the entire Church has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered."403

Benedict XVI has said he is going to resign his office. Ergo Papal infalliability no longer applies to him once he has resigned.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The Pope is only infallible when speaking ex cathedra, not all the time.

IIRC, the Pope has only spoken infallibly (is that a word?) less than 10 times since the beginning of the Papacy.

[Ben Kenobi]

The Pope is only infallible when speaking ex cathedra, not all the time.

Yes, that too.

[Hauldren Collider]

I think the media is a little anti-catholic sometimes.

[Guynemer]

I think the media is a little anti-catholic sometimes.

Pourquoi?


Also, may I advance a candidate?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well the American media, most definitely, is heavily influenced by the Protestant majority and therefore doesn't really "get" a lot of practices of Catholicism. I am usually stunned to see the crap they get wrong (a la 'papal infallibility' referenced upthread).

[Ben Kenobi]

IIRC, the Pope has only spoken infallibly (is that a word?) less than 10 times since the beginning of the Papacy.

This is a very good question that deserves a topic all to it's own. No, it's quite a bit more than that. 21 councils + 5, for 26. Counting only speaking from ex-cathedra and counting only doctrine promulgated through ex-cathedra, there are only 3, the immaculate conception, the assumption of Mary and Benedictus Deus which confirms that the saints who died before Christ's death and resurrection will be saved, alongside children baptised before the age of reason. The Pope at the time had a vision... That's it. Most of the use of the infalliability of the Magisterium actually concerns the ecumenical councils and not the Pope.

The best way to think of this is this way. Infalliability applies to the Pope and to the Magisterium as a whole. Starting with the Ecumenical councils:

There are 21 ecumenical councils recognised by the Catholic church.

Nicaea (325)
First Constantinople (381)
Ephesus (431)
Chaldecon (451)

These are the big four.

Then comes:

2nd Constantinople (553)
3rd Constantinople (681)
2nd Nicaea (787)
4th Constantinople (869)

1st Lateran (1123)
2nd Lateran (1139)
3rd Lateran (1179)
4th Lateran (1215)
1st Lyons (1245)
2nd Lyons (1274)
Vienne (1313)

These seven represent the next epoch of the Church.

Constance (1418)
Florence (1431-9)
Fifth Lateran (1515-7)
Trent (1545-1563)

Then only two since.

First + Second Vatican councils.

The five infalliable pronouncements, only three concern doctrine.

Benedictus Deus -> Saints that die before Christ's death + resurrection will be saved. Children who are baptised prior to the age of reason are also saved.
*** Occasione + Auctorem Fidei -> condemnation of the Jansenist heresy.
Ineffabilis Deus -> Immaculate Conception
Munificentissimus Deus -> Assumption of Mary