Experts in Theology and Church history consider that the death of Benedict XVI does not imply that Pope Francis will resign and assure that Bergoglio’s decision will not be conditioned by any external factor beyond his own strength to continue governing the Church. However, they also point out that the fact that the Pope has convened a Synod in stages that culminates in 2024 is a brake in case the Pontiff decides to leave the papacy.
The Spanish priest, professor emeritus of History of Theology at the University of Navarra and member of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, Josep Ignasi Saranyana, considers that «there is no reason to link» the death of Benedict XVI with a possible resignation of Pope Francis, because «if one day Bergoglio were to resign, it would not be for the same reasons that Ratzinger argued».
«Benedict XVI resigned because he did not feel capable of carrying out, at a certain moment in his life, the project he had formulated when he was elected. Pope Francis, on the other hand, if he ever decides to resign, it will be only for health reasons. I don’t think he feels incapable, because he is very strong mentally», Saranyana underlined in declarations to Europa Press. In any case, he pointed out that being in a wheelchair because of his knee problems, as Francis has been seen in the last images, «is not a handicap, nor is it something decisive to continue governing».
Saranyana also believes that the Synod of Bishops, whose general assembly will be held in October 2023 and in October 2024 at the Vatican, will not be a conditioning factor, either to advance or to delay a decision to resign, in the event that it has been considered. He recalled that the Council of Trent took place over five pontificates – it began with Paul III and culminated under Pius IV – and that the Second Vatican Council had two popes.
On the other hand, he considers that it would have been somewhat «picturesque» and «curious» if Pope Francis had resigned while Benedict XVI was still alive, so that two emeritus popes would have lived together. However, he specifies that the death of Benedict XVI does not imply that Francis now has a clear path for his resignation.
«The mood and personality of each pontiff is different. Therefore, let no one think that all pontiffs, from now on, will have to retire at a certain age. The Petrine ministry is ‘ad vitam’. Moreover, life expectancy is currently higher and many people reach advanced ages in full faculties,» he argued.
In this context, Saranyana suggests reflecting on the norm that requires bishops to retire at the age of 75, since many prelates could continue at the head of their dioceses beyond that age. «This is a complex issue,» he says. For the same reason, he finds it «paradoxical» that, «being the Pope the bishop of Rome, he does not have to present his resignation when he turns 75 and, however, the Cardinal Vicar of Rome, who governs the Urbe in the name of the Pope, must present his resignation».
A VERY RICH PERSONALITY Along the same lines, Fermín Labarga, professor of Church History at the University of Navarra, believes that «the personality of Pope Francis is so rich that it is not conditioned by anything or anyone», so he considers that, if he were to make the decision to resign, it would only depend on how he feels about himself.
In any case, he insisted that to speak of a possible resignation of Bergoglio is a «futurible» and added that the decision will not be conditioned by the celebration of the general assembly of the Synod of Bishops.
«It will depend on how he feels. Pope Francis has enough personality to have resigned while Benedict XVI was still alive, if he had found himself in a situation that would have led him to resign,» Labarga explained to Europa Press.
However, the expert does not rule out the possibility that Francis may never resign, if he feels strong enough to continue until the end. «I do not rule out any possibility, I do not think it is something as mathematical as some are thinking,» he added.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
