|
Hi Patty,
Historically, I don't know of any
Papal cases. There probably were
Popes that were removed from office
by reason of health or political
reasons. Nevertheless, it is important
to note, the Pope doesn't stand alone.
He is surrounded by all kinds of
Cardinals and Secretaries of State
and people who are in high responsible
positions around the Vatican and
when they notice a Pope is failing
for any kind of reason, I'm sure
they get together and either would
ask for his resignation or vote;
after all they put him in the office. They
can't vote him out, but
there can be a recognition that he
is not fully himself at this time.
It is so important to emphasize that,
unlike our Presidency in the United
States, if something happens to
the President, the Vice-President
assumes his office
— there is no vice-Pope; there
is no assistant Pope. The Holy Father must
resign of his own free will for
it to be a valid resignation. If
he doesn't want to, then all you
can do is pray that God takes him
soon.
The First See (Rome) is judged
by no one. We had a heresy called Conciliarism in which an ecumenical
council thought they could depose
a Pope. No one can depose the Pope
even if he's immoral or loss his
marbles.
Now God forbid, if a Pope did get
that way, maybe they might lock him
in the closet or something like that,
but you cannot remove him from office.
I'm should there would be plenty
of people that are loyal to the Church
and would take care that no damage
would be done.
On the issue of infallibility: Even
if, God forbid, a Pope was demented,
infallibility would still be present.
The Holy Spirit would stop him for
saying something like "Jesus
is really Mickey Mouse." Infallibility
is a negative chrism, where the Holy
Spirit would prevent him from making
such a statement binding in faith
and morals on the faithful. Whether
or not he, himself, believes he is
Mickey Mouse, is not a part of infallibility
so he might think he is a different
character, but it is not part of
infallibility.
Infallibility only applies to the
Pope's teachings and the universal
Church. This is where Catholic faith
comes in. There was a Cardinal from
Germany that has urged John Paul
II to resign but you can never compel
him to resign. This Office is so
unique.
On several related issues: If a priest has
dementia, the bishop will take care
of him fast. Some bishops have had
this too and in these situations
the Holy See will step in.
Fr. Levis RIP and Fr. John Trigilio
from EWTN's Web of Faith
|
