Happy Birthday, Holy Father!

[Caid Ivik]

83, and still with some power. Nice for the head of a half-billion church.

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/05/18/pope.birthday/index.html

[nampigai]

I was wondering is a pope able to abdicate? or does he have to remain in seat for all his life?

[Inoculator9]

I think they can leave, but there is a weird proclomation that states that they were never actually pope :P

[FireSnake]

I was wondering is a pope able to abdicate? or does he have to remain in seat for all his life?

I think that they do not WANT to leave. But I think they COULD. Beats me actually.

- Matthew

[Caid Ivik]

They can everytime. Any bishop can be "emerited" and then live just like a normal priest or monk. But it is only on him. About Pope it isn't so certain because none of the normal Popes leaved before their death. I cannot imagine someone living as "former Pope"...

[Dante]

They can everytime. Any bishop can be "emerited" and then live just like a normal priest or monk. But it is only on him. About Pope it isn't so certain because none of the normal Popes leaved before their death. I cannot imagine someone living as "former Pope"...

A few have, but it was a few centuries ago at least. Maybe only one pope has left at some point. Maybe it was political pressure? :)

[Caid Ivik]

As I've said, NORMAL Popes. There were many "anti-popes", which disputed the title as lords. In 1419 there were i.e. 3 popes.

[Vanguard3000]

I thought that was in 1427? Although there were many times where there were two popes.

[Caid Ivik]

I've mistaken, it was in 1409, when ruled Benedict XIII., Gregor XII. and Alexander V., first two were declared antipopes and officially lost their rule after council in Pisa, altough Gregor sit de facto until 1415 and against Benedict was succesful only Costnitz council in 1417. Last of those "normal" Popes (altough i.e. Roderigo Borgia alias Alexander VI. is counted to them too...) which hadn't waited for death was Celestin V., which ruled only a few months in 1294. One (Bonifacius VII., in 10th century) was even ruling twice.