Can a Pope Resign?

Yes. Canon 332, ยง2 says that, “If it happens that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that the resignation is made freely and properly manifested but not that it is accepted by anyone.”

Who would have guessed it’d be that straightforward?

(h/t Canonist Ed Peters on Fr. Z’s blog).

1 comment

  1. But what did Canon Law of 1917 say before it was changed by JP II about a Pope’s resignation? JP II made many changes that deviated from what the traditions always taught before the pastoral VII council.

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