The unintended consequences of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation

Pope Benedict XVI's papacy was one of unintended consequences, argues Christopher Bellitto, and the 10-year post-resignation period from 2013-2022 was no exception.

While Pope Benedict displayed great humility in resigning the papacy, his decisions to take the name "Pope Emeritus", wear a white cassock, and periodically conduct interviews and release statements, raise procedural and theological questions for the Catholic Church. What norms, if any, should be established for the seeming inevitable resignations of future popes?

01:05 - The historical precedence for a papal resignation prior to 2013
03:30 - How Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's post-resignation years created false narratives
11:00 - The impact of a pope emeritus on Pope Francis
12:36 - Making sense of a "traditional" pope breaking with tradition to resign

*Note: Pope Francis, like his predecessors, drafted a letter indicating that he would resign if incapacitated.
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[penelopecarterdougherty]

Benedict XVI resigned due to age and infirmity because he witnessed, firsthand through JP II, the absolute danger to the Church when a sick and feeble man refuses to release the helm. This is, of course, the same reason that Francis has already announced that he's already written a resignation letter.

[chrisboone]

Don't forget that all the ATM machines stopped working at a time before Benedict's resignation, and they all started working again either when he stated he was going to resign, or it was when Francis was elected. Interesting!🤔

[Winston-opde]

I disagree that he should not have worn the white habit of a Pope. When he resigned the papacy, he was no longer oficially the Pope; However the Papacy as the priesthood is given for life. Once a pope has officially resigned, although he is no longer the official pope, he is still a pope and for that reason he chose the title Pope Emeritus but he still wore the pope habit. He was an incredible gift given to us by God, May Pope Benedict XVI rest in peace.

[isabelmedina]

Great pope and teacher. Eternally gracefully for him.

[chrisboone]

Francis has written a letter that he will resign in the event he is incapacitated. You failed to mention that.

[nkila]

The professor's presentation seems well balanced and useful in the suggestions he made in favor of a pre-established protocol for resigned popes. At times, I suspected that Benedict regretted his decision to resign.

He may have retained some of his identity as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the former Inquisition. He served as Prefect for nearly a quarter of a century.

[opencurtin]

The problem with the modern age is people are living longer even if you pick an older Pope he may live longer but may still not be able to carry out his vocation because of advanced age so resigning is the best option if you pick a younger pope you may have a Papal rein that goes on too long like that of JP2, he did the church a service by resigning...

[josephjude]

At a certain age mandatory retirement should be seen as being the norm for the future. Benedict the great Reformer of the church please pray for us

[MadMax]

Sadly Pope Benedict XVI abandoned his flock for fear of the wolves. Now the wolves have taken over the Church, and the Chair

[Steven-tbqr]

Thank you Pope Benedict the 16th for your prayers and achievements coming from Marktl, Germany. God bless. God bless quantum entanglement.

[huahuynh]

Xin chúa ban cho linh hồn đức giáo hoàng beneditto 16 lên thẳng cùng với chúa luôn chúa ơi amen amen amen nhưng xin đừng theo y con nhưng hãy theo y chúa đến muôn đời amen amen amen amen

[huahuynh]

Xin chúa ban cho tât ca các linh hôn các đức giáo hoàng lên thẳng cùng với chúa luôn chúa ơi amen amen amen amen nhưng xin đừng theo y con nhưng hãy theo y chúa đến muôn đời amen amen amen amen

[huahuynh]

Xin chúa ban cho tât ca các linh hôn các đức hồng y khắp nơi trên thế giới lên thẳng cùng với chúa luôn chúa ơi amen amen amen amen nhưng xin đừng theo y con nhưng hãy theo y chúa đến muôn đời amen amen amen amen

[huahuynh]

Xin chúa ban cho linh hồn giuse huỳnh văn hôn đã qua đời băc đăc kỳ tử chưa lãnh nhận được tât cả các bí tích sau cùng vv linh hôn đau khô lang thang vv bị đau đôi chân vv lên thẳng cùng với chúa luôn chúa ơi amen amen amen amen nhưng xin đừng theo y con nhưng hãy theo y chúa đến muôn đời amen amen amen amen

[constanceaverman]

With all due respect I felt abandoned. He ditched us after forcing Latin back on us. The church still does not teach us Latin...before Mass? After Mass? In the bulletin? I bought the Adoremus Hymnal which has Latin on one side and English on the other side because, good grief, I missed the Our Father for the first time in my life because I did not recognize the Latin. My mother is 96 and she got a real kick out of the renewed use of Latin since it jogged her memory of "the good 'ole days". He was too old in his thinking and it "jarred" me to be forced to deal with Latin and it was an odd relief when he left. I waited for the return of the rail and the backside of our Priests and thank God that we did not have that forced on us too. I don't understand why he left even after this video. Oh well. We are taught to take the "heat" for the decisions we make and it seems he couldn't take it. He was humble but too old and the bishops ought not to have elected him to begin with.