Pope's Resignation
Special Report: Pope’s Resignation
By: Faith Catholic of Lansing for Aquinas
At 8 p.m. (Rome time) on February 28, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI’s reign as Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church came to an end. He had bid farewell to a large crowd gathered at the Vatican City a few hours earlier to travel to Castel Gandolfo, where he will live for about two months before moving to a monastery inside the Vatican City. Greeted by several hundred more of the faithful upon his arrival, the Pope offered his final apostolic blessing and departed the Castel Gandolfo balcony saying, “Thank you and good night. Thanks to all of you.”
A New Name, A New Look
According to a Catholic News Agency report, a couple of days before his retirement, the Holy See press office revealed that Benedict XVI would retain his papal name, but he would have three new titles: Pope Emeritus, His Holiness, and Roman Pontiff Emeritus.
On the same day, it was announced that upon retirement he will wear a simple white cassock and brown shoes given to him in Leon, Mexico. However, the mozzetta (the short cape that had covered his shoulders) and the papal red shoes will be gone.
In addition, he will no longer wear the “ring of the fisherman” that is proper to the papacy. Both the ring and papal seal will be broken at a time designated by the College of Cardinals and its chamberlain (camerlengo) in accordance with sede vacante (vacant chair) norms. The Pope Emeritus will wear the episcopal ring from his time as Cardinal Ratzinger.
The Swiss Guard
The Pontifical Swiss Guard has served the papacy since the 16th century. Perhaps, their most significant moment came on May 6, 1527, when 147 of the 189 Guards died fighting the forces of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V during the Sack of Rome in order to allow Pope Clement VII to escape the city.
The Swiss Guards officially ended their ceremonial protection of Pope Benedict XVI the moment his resignation became effective. They placed their halberds on the inner walls of Castel Gandolfo as there is now no pope to protect. They then stood at the gates until 8 p.m. on February 28th before departing their stations. This is not to say the Pope Emeritus will be without security. He will continue to enjoy the protection of Vatican police in retirement.
The Last Moments of his Papacy in his own words…
“At this time, I have within myself a great trust [in God], because I know – all of us know – that the Gospel’s word of truth is the strength of the Church: it is her life. The Gospel purifies and renews: it bears fruit wherever the community of believers hears and welcomes the grace of God in truth and lives in charity. This is my faith, this is my joy.”
“[These years] have been a stretch of the Church’s pilgrim way, which has seen moments joy and light, but also difficult moments. I have felt like St. Peter with the Apostles in the boat on the Sea of Galilee: the Lord has given us many days of sunshine and gentle breeze, days in which the catch has been abundant; [then] there have been times when the seas were rough and the wind against us, as in the whole history of the Church it has ever been - and the Lord seemed to sleep. Nevertheless, I always knew that the Lord is in the barque, that the barque of the Church is not mine, not ours, but His - and He shall not let her sink.”
“Loving the Church also means having the courage to make difficult, trying choices, having ever before oneself the good of the Church and not one’s own.”
“Dear friends! God guides His Church, maintains her always, and especially in difficult times. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the only true vision of the way of the Church and the world. In our heart, in the heart of each of you, let there be always the joyous certainty that the Lord is near, that He does not abandon us, that He is near to us and that He surrounds us with His love. Thank you!” ‐ Excerpts from his final Wednesday Audience on February 27 2013.
“Among you, between the College of Cardinals, there is also the future Pope, to whom I already pledge my unconditional respect and obedience.” ‐ Surprise address to the 144 cardinals gathered to bid him farewell in Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace at 11 a.m. on February 28, 2013.
“I’m simply a pilgrim that is starting the last stage of his pilgrimage on Earth, but I would still like with my heart, with my love, with my prayer, with my reflection, with all my inner strength to work for the common good of the Church and of humanity, and I feel very supported by your sympathy. Let’s go ahead together with the Lord for the good of the Church and of the world.” ‐ Words before his final apostolic blessing as Pope at Castel Gandolfo on February 28, 2013.
State of the Church: Sede Vacante
During this period between papacies, the Apostolic Constitution, Universi Dominici Gregis, issued by Blessed John Paul II in 1996 governs operation of the Holy See. It charges the College of Cardinals, along with a few Vatican officials, with the principal duties of governing, albeit in a limited way. All the heads of the Roman Curia, the administrative arm of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, automatically resign their offices during sede vacante.
The only exceptions to the above are the Cardinal Camerlengo, who is charged with managing the property of the Holy See, and the Major Penitentiary, who continues to exercise his normal role regarding issues of mercy especially relating to the forgiveness of sins. Overseas diplomacy and pastoral work will also continue during sede vacante through the efforts of papal legates and both the Vicar General of Rome and the Vicar General for the Vatican City respectively.
Other notable changes that will occur during this period include the use of special postage stamps by the Vatican City and the use of a different coat of arms for the Holy See. In terms of the coat of arms, the papal tiara over the keys will be replaced with the umbraculum, or ombrellino (“little umbrella”). This symbolizes the lack of a pope and also the governance of the Camerlengo over the temporalities of the Holy See. The Camerlengo also adds this symbol to his own coat of arms, which he will remove once a pope is elected.
What’s Next?
Presumably, on Friday, March 1, 2013, the first official day of the sede vacante, the College of Cardinals' dean will formally invite cardinals to Rome to start their post-pope meetings. Most or all already in the city, from the former pope's last meeting with them. The general congregations, a series of daily meetings that are a mix church business as well as chances to get to know and learn about each other, are expected to start Monday, March 4th. The cardinals will then begin in earnest the process for selecting the next pope. Typically, conclaves are supposed to happen at least 15 days and no more than 20 days after the sede vacante begins, but Benedict XVI changed the rules in the last days of his papacy to allow an earlier start.