Benedict XVI Has Produced Tensions - Cardinal Müller
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However, he criticises Benedict XVI's 2013 resignation for having produced a tension in the Petrine ministry and in the Church "that has no parallel historically and has not yet been dogmatically dealt with".
In this context, Müller also mentions the media attention and spatial proximity as well as the length of the parallel lifetimes of Benedict XVI and Francis. In any case, the resignation of a Pope for reasons of age and health must remain the "strictest exception,” he said.
A pope may resign according to canon law, but he is not appointed by Christ as president of an assembly who can retire into a well-deserved retirement. This is contrary to the mission and authority he has received.
Müller also finds a tension between divine mission and the law of the Church in the forced resignation of bishops at 75. He only comes to terms "pragmatically" with this.
Picture: © Mazur, CC BY-NC-SA, #newsVizghzgqvv
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