Reports of a ‘Plot Against the Pope’ Are Not Wholly Implausible [Catholic Caucus]

A Francis resignation seems unlikely – but then he is the 'Pope of surprises.'

The Pope is on retreat this week, which is a good reminder to all of us, clerical and lay, that we do need time out and time away, in order to reflect on what really matters in our lives – that is, our relationship with God – and to refresh our spiritual lives. Perhaps that is why the Pope has gone to Ariccia, some miles from Rome, a place where he will be insulated from the usual pressures of life in the Vatican and “living over the shop”.

That may be especially welcome at the moment. If recent reports, originating with the Italian journalist Antonio Socci, are to be believed – and presumably Socci has well-placed sources – the Vatican is currently a hotbed of intrigue. In particular, according to the Socci story, there is a plot afoot to persuade the 80-year-old Pontiff to resign.

It is not a wholly implausible story. The resignation of Pope Benedict, only the second papal resignation in recent history, introduced the possibility that a future Pope might at some time or another be expected to follow suit. Now that dying in office is no longer de rigueur, it follows that resignation is a possible, even the likely end, of every papacy. Moreover, because the Pope can now retire, there will be people who think that he therefore should, even must, retire, at some point.

The fact that this “plot” has leaked could mean one of two things. It could be that the feeling the Pope should retire is now so widespread, that it cannot be kept secret – in other words there are too many people in on the plot. But it could mean something else entirely, namely that the plotters are very few in number and are airing their idea to see if it gains traction. Their idea might be to launch a snowball that then turns into an avalanche in the way of which nothing can stand.

We don’t know what the reaction to this idea is in the corridors of power, which is the only reaction that counts. But the reaction elsewhere has been muted. There has been no horrified response by all and sundry saying that the Pope must not under any circumstances resign. Resignation has been mooted and Catholics have by and large shrugged. This seems to indicate that the idea per se is not to be ruled out, but is rather something we can all live with. So the question is not whether Pope Francis should resign, but when he should choose to do so. The real question is one of timing.

Needless to say, no one has the power to force a papal resignation, except perhaps the papal doctors. It is up to the Pope alone, and a resignation, to be valid, must be freely chosen. (One could imagine a medical team judging a pope, any pope, no longer capable of fulfilling his duties – which would be an interesting scenario for canon lawyers.) But the Pope is free to do as he likes in this matter, and must remain free to do so. To lose that freedom would be a serious curtailment of the papal power.

Is the plot a real plot? In that certain people have gathered over their cappuccinos and discussed it, yes; that a delegation will form and go to the Pope telling him to go, as has been the fate of several British prime ministers, I doubt it. The precedent that that would create is simply too dangerous. And Pope Francis shows no sign of giving up, or even slowing down. He has, however, been a Pope of surprises, and may surprise us all again.

I am praying for this resignation every day. I pray thus: Holy Trinity please remove Pope Francis from the papacy through Divine Providence however You choose to do so.

Amen. I try to attend our local noon Latin thrice weekly mass and try to pray for this request when appropriate - the Latin mass is VERY powerful. The more I attend and learn the payers, the more I see how they watered down the novus ordo.

Vatican II, Pope Francis, and the entire novus ordo church liturgy is operating as a parallel (shadow) church that gained ascendancy. I am not a sedevancantist and would not go so far as to think the novus ordo is not valid, however its definciencies are striking.

Forty Holy Martyrs - ora pro nobis.

Thank you - I had not heard of Ann Barnhardt before this and will check her out.

FYI - In the late 80’s as I started to take my faith seriously and began reading the saints (the Church doctors in particular), it became painfully clear to me that there are two de facto churches happening. In other words, this realization predates the recent talk of hearing about shadow governments, etc..

I began to discern around 1990, completely on my own, that the novus ordo is a parallel church formed by the father of lies to poison the liturgy and doctrine of the true church in the same way that a drop of ink contaminates a whole vessel of water. (Well, the Holy Spirit, unbidden opened my eyes to this knowledge so it was not actually on my own). All this happened before I had even attended my first Latin Mass as an adult. Curiously, I remember as a very young child in the early 60’s (I was born in 1960) the Tridentine masses I had witnessed, particularly the et cum spiritu tuo, Deo Gratias, etc.

Something seemed very very off once my eyes were opened. To this day I can barely stand to attend the novus ordo without feeling anxious.

The first Latin mass I attended after all of this several years later was such an experience because every time I left the novus ordo I had had a deep sense that everything was off, chaos, and didn’t know why, and everything was so right in the Tridentine.

I had not (yet) read Michael Davies, The Remnant, heard of Archbishop Lefebvre, none of this. I just had a sense that the novus ordo was wrong. Later I was thrilled to discover others who thought this way - initially I thought there was something wrong with me that I could attend the novus ordo, see how dreadful it was - yet the others including the priest were oblivious!

(sorry for long post)

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