If a Pope were to resign, what would happen in the Vatican? This is how the resignation process works
There is currently no official information about the Holy Father's decision, but his possible abdication is a scenario that the Vatican must consider. The final decision, however, remains solely in Francis' hands.
According to the Code of Canon Law, a pope may resign from office if this decision is made voluntarily and is properly announced . Importantly, it does not require the approval of any church institution. In practice, this means that the moment the decision to resign is publicly announced, the pope automatically ceases to perform his function.
"If it should happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns from his office, it is required for validity that the resignation be made freely and be duly manifest; it does not require anyone's acceptance," states the Code of Canon Law.
What would happen if Francis abdicated?In the event of Francis' resignation, the Vatican would wait for an official statement, and then a period of sede vacante would begin —from Latin, an unoccupied see or empty throne. During that time, the Church would be governed by a cardinal camerlengo, who serves as the interim head of the Vatican City State. A conclave would then be held to elect a new pope. The process could last several weeks and follows strictly defined procedures.
Historical Cases of Pope ResignationWhile Benedict XVI’s 2013 abdication was unprecedented in recent history, there have been similar cases in the past. The last pope before Benedict to voluntarily resign was Gregory XII in 1415. Earlier resignations occurred in the Middle Ages, including Celestine V in 1294 , who voluntarily resigned to live as a hermit, Gregory VI , and Benedict IX .
Will Pope Francis decide to abdicate?Speculations about Pope Francis' resignation stem not only from his health, but also from the circumstances surrounding his pontificate. The Pope has repeatedly emphasized that if his condition prevents him from fulfilling his duties, he will consider resigning. Already in 2013, he signed a letter in which he outlined the procedure for his potential resignation if his health condition prevented him from continuing his ministry.
The Pope spoke about the details of this act in an interview with the Spanish daily "ABC" in 2022.
Source: PAP / Wikipedia
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