Yes, a pope can resign.
A code of canon law approved back in 1917 officially provided for the extremely rare move — although like anything, there are limits to when it is allowed.
For example, a resignation brought about by fear or fraud would be invalid under church law. In addition, canonists argue that a person resigning from the office must be of sound mind.
So it seems that an extreme health issue is the main basis for the move.
The issue actually came up in 1989 and again in 1994 under Pope John Paul II — although no one knew it at the time.
John Paul II had secretly prepared letters offering the College of Cardinals his resignation in case of an incurable disease or other condition that would prevent him from fulfilling his ministry.
His 1989 letter was brief and to the point. It said that in the case of an incurable illness that prevents him from “sufficiently carrying out the functions of my apostolic ministry” or because of some other serious and prolonged impediment, “I renounce my sacred and canonical office, both as bishop of Rome as well as head of the holy Catholic Church.”
In his 1994 letter, John Paul acknowledged that he had spent years wondering whether a pope should resign at age 75, the normal retirement age for bishops.
He also said that two years earlier, when he thought he might have a malignant colon tumor, he thought God had already decided for him.
Then, he said, he decided to follow the example of Pope Paul VI who, in 1965, concluded that a pope “could not resign the apostolic mandate except in the presence of an incurable illness or an impediment that would prevent the exercise of the functions of the successor of Peter.”
In a book-length interview with a German journalist after becoming pope, Benedict XVI himself responded unambiguously to a question about whether a pope could resign.
“Yes. If a pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office, then he has a right and, under some circumstances, also an obligation to resign,” the pope said.
But he was quick to add that he didn’t favor resignation simply because the burden of the papacy was proving too great.
“When the danger is great, one must not run away,’’ he said.
“For that reason, now is certainly not the time to resign. Precisely at a time like this one must stand fast and endure the situation. That is my view. One can resign at a peaceful moment or when one simply cannot go on. But one must not run away from danger and say someone else should do it.”
The next pope will probably be a cardinal between 63 and 73 years of age who speaks Italian and English and reflects Benedict’s and John Paul’s positions.
Those positions include being liberal on social justice and peace, traditional in church teaching and practice, and ecumenical, but convinced the church has the truth.
Still, Benedict’s successor will likely have a very different personality from either him or John Paul — simply because there is no one in the college at the moment who is similar to either man.
There is no one with a personality like John Paul’s — a Polish actor, intellectual and teacher, who grew up under Nazism and communism.
Nor is there anyone like Benedict, with his background as a German theologian and prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, who grew up in Germany during the Second World War.
But if any of the cardinals are considering trying to publicly lobby for the top job now that Benedict is retiring, they should think again.
Discussions before the conclave convenes do occur — but privately, among the cardinals.
Public campaigning — even after a pope’s death — is frowned upon and would likely backfire.
More information on the conclaves and papal elections is available at: http://americamagazine.org/papal-transition.
The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J. is a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University and author of “Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church” (Harvard University Press, 1996). He was editor in chief of America magazine from 1998-2005.