Can the pope resign from office?
We are witnessing something extraordinary in modern times: His Holiness John Paul II is the most traveled pope in history, and, given the length of his term in office, he likely has met more people than any pope before him. As well, unlike other pontiffs, he has struggled with his health in view of the world. This has given rise to a question: Can he resign? Though the pope traditionally remains in office until death, he certainly can resign. Canon 332, paragraph 2, states, “Should it happen that the Roman pontiff resigns from his office, it is required for validity that the resignation be freely made and properly manifested, but it is not necessary that it be accepted by anyone.” Since the pope has “supreme, full, immediate, and universal power in the Church” (CIC 331), his actions are not dependent upon anothers response. Thus his resignation does not need to be accepted to become effective. How then could a pope resign? He would have to state clearly his resignation in spoken word o
