Pope's resignation will not cause crisis in Catholic Church, says top Benin priest.
Monday's announcement by the Vatican that Pope Benedict XVI will resign on 28 February will not throw the Catholic Church into crisis, according to Rev. Fr. André Quenum, in charge of communications at the archdiocese of Cotonou, Benin.
Rev. Fr. Quenum said that 'although unusual, the resignation from pontifical duties is not a situation of crisis. Within the Church, a succession programme exists and functions. It’s a rare situation though.'
“Even if this does not often happen, the case of Pope Benedict XVI is not the first because there had been a case in the past. The tradition is that archbishops can resign at the age of 75, cardinals at 85 and priests at 65,' the priest said.
Pana 13/02/2013