Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Papal Job Security

Popes are elected to serve for life unless they resign, and they can't be pressured or forced out of office. (Pope Pontian was the first to abdicate in 235, St. Peter Celestine V left in 1294 to go back to a monastery, and Pope Gregory XII became the most recent to resign in 1415) No one can remove the pope, even if he becomes sick, insane, or corrupt. Even an ecumenical council lacks the authority to remove him. So when a bad pope does get elected (it has happened a handful of times), the best course of action is to pray for his happy death (To do this, one could ask for the intercession of St. Joseph, who was believed to have died a happy death in the arms of Jesus and Mary).

For what it's worth, of the 266 popes in the Church's history, only a dozen were real scoundrels who caused scandal. Compare that with the 78 popes who are recognized as saints. That leaves 176 pretty good, reasonable men who have held the office. That's better statistically than the Presidency, governors, or other elected officals from around the world.

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