Pope, Papacy and the vacant See by Father Francesco Ricossa
IN THE CONSISTORY OF FEBRUARY 11, 2013, Benedict XVI announced his “resignation from the office of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter”. He specified the See would be vacant effective February 28, at 8 p.m.
On March 13, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected in Joseph Ratzinger’s place, presenting himself to the world as the new “Bishop of Rome”. Our views (for what they are worth) were expressed in two press releases: one of February 11, in which we foresaw “the night would get darker still”; the other on March 15, in which we saw in Bergoglio’s election the realization of a forecast made all too easily. In this article, I do not plan to zoom in on Bergoglio’s actions (I cannot say government), for these are seen by everyone.
Rather, we will review what is a Sovereign Pontiff in the Church, especially in the process by which a man who was not born as Successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ becomes or ceases to be one, or finds an obstacle to become one.
IN THE CONSISTORY OF FEBRUARY 11, 2013, Benedict XVI announced his “resignation from the office of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter”. He specified the See would be vacant effective February 28, at 8 p.m.
On March 13, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected in Joseph Ratzinger’s place, presenting himself to the world as the new “Bishop of Rome”. Our views (for what they are worth) were expressed in two press releases: one of February 11, in which we foresaw “the night would get darker still”; the other on March 15, in which we saw in Bergoglio’s election the realization of a forecast made all too easily. In this article, I do not plan to zoom in on Bergoglio’s actions (I cannot say government), for these are seen by everyone.
Rather, we will review what is a Sovereign Pontiff in the Church, especially in the process by which a man who was not born as Successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ becomes or ceases to be one, or finds an obstacle to become one.
IN THE CONSISTORY OF FEBRUARY 11, 2013, Benedict XVI announced his “resignation from the office of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter”. He specified the See would be vacant effective February 28, at 8 p.m.
On March 13, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected in Joseph Ratzinger’s place, presenting himself to the world as the new “Bishop of Rome”. Our views (for what they are worth) were expressed in two press releases: one of February 11, in which we foresaw “the night would get darker still”; the other on March 15, in which we saw in Bergoglio’s election the realization of a forecast made all too easily. In this article, I do not plan to zoom in on Bergoglio’s actions (I cannot say government), for these are seen by everyone.
Rather, we will review what is a Sovereign Pontiff in the Church, especially in the process by which a man who was not born as Successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ becomes or ceases to be one, or finds an obstacle to become one.