So, the Patriarchal Churches have true synods of bishops, as they did when they were Orthodox. But these Synods had to ask the Bishop of Rome to fix their problems? But if they really are autonomous they should be able to fix things themselves.
Yes, I know, one can say that the old men in the Synods would still get their way, supposedly there are a great number of the seniors.
Worse things have happened in those Churches, they usually fight among themselves and eventually figure it out.
I find it ironically hysterical that 80 year olds are banned for voting in papal, synodal (nothing like the GSW) and Patriarchal elections. Yet, the Bishop of Rome is 86…Mmm. His predecessors were over 80 beginning with Paul 6 through Benedict 13 (except for John Paul 1).
An old man can’t run a local Eparchy but the Bishop of Rome (86) can run the Universal Church?
Aside from being the Successor of Peter was there a special “ordination” after election that gave the pope greater grace than other bishops?
There's the special grace of having a Curia of thousands of people. But the real reason is that, the way the Church has worked for a long time now, the bishop of Rome has no superior he can be forced to submit his resignation to. He won the battle for supremacy over ecumenical councils several centuries ago. While it's doctrinally unthinkable for a pope to have a mandatory use-by date, there is no such impediment for other bishops, and there are good reasons to stop them from governing their diocese up until the day they die.
I would expect that if a pope were to declare an upper age limit for serving as pope, his successor could just as easily remove the limit. However, I can imagine a pope like Francis being willing to entertain the idea and beginning a small-t tradition of retiring at some age.
You may be correct about a doctrinal issue with such a policy, but a convention, like wearing the triple crown, or not, can often be free of doctrinal restraints.
Exactly, and that's what happened to any number of restrictions imposed on popes by popes or conclaves during the medieval period; quickly overturned by a successor.
A convention of resigning is quite possible. Francis has indicated that while Benedict was courageous to resign, he thinks the papacy should normally be "ad vitam'. So I wouldn't count on him doing so.
The size of eparchial/diocesan Curias are commensurate with the size of Eparchy/Diocese (usually they are over staffed). Remember we love our universal and local governing apparatus…as Rome goes so does the rest of the Church.
Interesting.
So, the Patriarchal Churches have true synods of bishops, as they did when they were Orthodox. But these Synods had to ask the Bishop of Rome to fix their problems? But if they really are autonomous they should be able to fix things themselves.
Yes, I know, one can say that the old men in the Synods would still get their way, supposedly there are a great number of the seniors.
Worse things have happened in those Churches, they usually fight among themselves and eventually figure it out.
I find it ironically hysterical that 80 year olds are banned for voting in papal, synodal (nothing like the GSW) and Patriarchal elections. Yet, the Bishop of Rome is 86…Mmm. His predecessors were over 80 beginning with Paul 6 through Benedict 13 (except for John Paul 1).
An old man can’t run a local Eparchy but the Bishop of Rome (86) can run the Universal Church?
Aside from being the Successor of Peter was there a special “ordination” after election that gave the pope greater grace than other bishops?
Sit transit gloria mundi
There's the special grace of having a Curia of thousands of people. But the real reason is that, the way the Church has worked for a long time now, the bishop of Rome has no superior he can be forced to submit his resignation to. He won the battle for supremacy over ecumenical councils several centuries ago. While it's doctrinally unthinkable for a pope to have a mandatory use-by date, there is no such impediment for other bishops, and there are good reasons to stop them from governing their diocese up until the day they die.
I would expect that if a pope were to declare an upper age limit for serving as pope, his successor could just as easily remove the limit. However, I can imagine a pope like Francis being willing to entertain the idea and beginning a small-t tradition of retiring at some age.
You may be correct about a doctrinal issue with such a policy, but a convention, like wearing the triple crown, or not, can often be free of doctrinal restraints.
Exactly, and that's what happened to any number of restrictions imposed on popes by popes or conclaves during the medieval period; quickly overturned by a successor.
A convention of resigning is quite possible. Francis has indicated that while Benedict was courageous to resign, he thinks the papacy should normally be "ad vitam'. So I wouldn't count on him doing so.
I didn’t mean to imply the popes should retire, I was pointing out the there are many competent over 80 year olds, with wisdom and experience.
Again, even with the Curia the pope reigns as king, an 80 year old could be competent to run a local Eparchy.
Thank you for the clarification. I did not want to put words into your mouth!
And a local bishop, has a local Curia.
that is correct, which is why I specified that there are thousands of people in the Roman curia, which is quite different.
Not an issue…
The size of eparchial/diocesan Curias are commensurate with the size of Eparchy/Diocese (usually they are over staffed). Remember we love our universal and local governing apparatus…as Rome goes so does the rest of the Church.
Another reason I subscribe to the Pillar. Great article