There is so much information swirling around the net at the moment about Pope Benedict’s resignation and all that will follow over the next few days and weeks.
Just in case you haven’t seen these yet, let me recommend one or two useful links. I won’t even try to summarise the articles – you can dip in yourselves.
The Catholic Truth Society has very generously put online a pdf version of one of its booklets, Conclave: Step by Step through the Papal Interregnum, by Mgr Charles Burns. There is far more information here than you are ever going to need.
John Allen gives a quick course in ‘Conclave 101‘. Why not keep an eye on Allen’s articles and updates here. You can also sign up for NCR email alerts on the right-hand sidebar, and then select Allen’s articles in the NCR preferences.
The America website has a long Q&A entitled Papal Transition by Thomas J Reese. I’ll copy the questions here for quick links.
Before the pope dies or resigns
- When did Benedict XVI create new cardinals?
- What happens if the pope dies before a consistory?
- What happens when the pope gets seriously sick?
- Can a pope resign?
- Why did Benedict XVI resign?
- What is the long-term impact of Benedict’s resignation on the life of the church? NEW 2/13/13
- Will Pope Benedict try to influence the election of his successor? NEW 2/13/13
- What happens if a pope goes into a coma?
- What would happen if a pope became mentally disabled or suffered from Alzheimer’s?
- What could the church do if the Apostolic See becomes impeded?
During the Interregnum
- What happens when a pope dies or resigns?
- How does the church deal with an ex-pope? What are his powers? What is he called? NEW 2/13/13
- When is the pope’s funeral?
- Who governs the church between the pope’s death/resignation and the election of a new pope?
- Is there campaigning prior to the conclave?
The Conclave
- What do the cardinals look for in a candidate to be pope? NEW 2/13/13
- When and where is the conclave held?
- Where does the word “conclave” come from?
- Who is permitted in the conclave? UPDATED 2/14/13
- Who are the cardinal electors? UPDATED 2/14/13
- How has Benedict changed the makeup of the College of Cardinals? UPDATED 2/14/13
- Has the pope always been elected by the cardinals?
- What happens on the first day of the conclave?
- How does the balloting take place?
- How long can the conclave last?
- What happens after the first day?
- Who can be elected?
- Who might be elected?
- Who would you bet on?
- What are the chances of an American being elected?
- What issues will be discussed in the conclave?
- What happens after the election?
Other Questions
- What issues will the next pope face?
- “Reforming the Vatican,” by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., Commonweal, April 25, 2008 New 2/18/13
- 2005 Conclave Books
- 2005 Pre-Conclave Books and Information
Do put any other good links you have seen in the comments box.
We should all hope and pray that the man chosen by the conclave is has the wisdom to govern the Church amidst these changing times. It has been written and said more than once that Benedict XVI is a caretaker Pope (not a title I like, but I know wehere they came from). I think, therefore, we should hope for a Pope with the longevity to make appropriate changes, having seen the bigger picture, and to carry them through.
Lots of very interesting detail!
Reblogged this on 1catholicsalmon and commented:
All possible questions answered here about the ins and outs of the Papacy…
[…] of our readers has suggested the website Bridges and Tangents. There, Stephen Wang has compiled a treasure trove of information on all things […]
Having read a great deal about the Holy Father’s resignation and seen a lot on television, to see him finally leave the Vatican left me with a feeling of sadness as well as the sense of history being played out. I also felt immense gratitude to him for his wisdom and the way he has led us. Nunc Dimittis.