VOA新闻杂志2023--Catholic Church May Consider New Rules for Retired Popes

Catholic Church May Consider New Rules for Retired¹ Popes

Pope Benedict, the retired leader of the Roman Catholic Church, died December 31. He became Pope in 2005 and retired from the position in 2013. Most popes serve until they die.

There are not many rules or traditions in place concerning retired popes. Benedict was the first pope to retire in 600 years.

Benedict took the title Pope Emeritus² upon retirement³. But, that led to some confusion among Roman Catholics over the next ten years. Followers⁴ wondered if they should honor official messages from Benedict as a new pope, Francis, was leading the Church.

Some were unsure about who was in charge: the pope or the pope emeritus?

With the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the question has been answered.

The Church's press office released a two-sentence announcement. No one rang the bells at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, as would have been done with a serving pope. There was no official live statement to followers outside the basilica either. The Vatican response makes clear that Benedict stopped being pope upon retirement.

Experts say the death announcement was more like those that come with the death of other clergy⁵, such as bishops⁷.

Benedict is getting some important honors, however. For example, he is lying in state for three days inside St. Peter's Basilica. He is wearing the red robes of a pope for lying in state and the burial. Many thousands of visitors have paid their respects to Benedict there already. Pope Francis will lead Benedict's funeral on Thursday.

The Vatican says the service will be simple. It invited delegations⁸ only from Germany and Italy to attend. When a serving pope dies, the entire international community is invited to send delegates.

After the funeral, Roman Catholic Church leaders will start to think about some rules for future popes who decide to retire.

Some wonder if Pope Francis will make new rules for retired popes. Perhaps Francis himself will think about retiring.

Pope Francis said Benedict was "saintly and discreet⁹" as pope emeritus. He said those qualities enabled Benedict to carry out retired life in a good way.

But Francis also said there should be some rules to guide future retirements¹⁰. One likely change is to bar use of the title Pope Emeritus.

In 2021, lawyers who are experts in the workings of the Roman Catholic Church started a project to think about papal retirement. Among the proposals they produced was a new title for retirees: "bishop⁶ emeritus of Rome."

They also suggested a retired pope should not wear or use traditional clothing or objects used by a serving pope. The retired pope, the group said, should support the Catholic Church but not take part in high-level church meetings.

Such actions might help avoid problems and confusion, especially when a serving pope and retired pope disagree on issues.

Geraldina Boni is a professor of religious law at the University of Bologna who is part of the group. She said she thinks "appropriate ways will be found," so that followers are not confused.

Boni said the group was criticized for coming together in 2021. But, she said the need for rules about retirement "has been affirmed by high-level church" officials.

No one knows if the Vatican will consider the group's ideas. One observer, however, thinks Francis will now find it easier to think about his own retirement since Benedict set an example.

Luis Badilla runs a blog that covers the Vatican called Il Sismografo.

"We have to get used to the idea that popes will live long lives and that, in the end, just like my grandfather or your grandfather and everyone's grandfathers, they can't continue," he said. "But they are still part of the family, and this is something beautiful. It gives us a normal church, not a Martian or other-worldly one."

Words in This Story

live –adj. done in front of an audience

robe –n. a long, loose piece of clothing that is worn on top of other clothes to show that someone has a high rank or an important job

saintly –adj. like a saint, good and kind

discreet –adj. careful and quiet, not noticed

appropriate –adj. right or correct for the situation

affirm –v. to say something is true or correct

blog – n. a website on which someone writes personal ideas or opinions

other-wordly – adj. not from earth or a place humans are familiar with

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

3 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

4 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

5 clergy   

n.[总称]牧师，神职人员

参考例句：

• I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
• All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

6 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

7 bishops   

（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象

参考例句：

• Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。
• "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

8 delegations   

n.代表团( delegation的名词复数 )；委托，委派

参考例句：

• In the past 15 years, China has sent 280 women delegations abroad. 十五年来，中国共派280批妇女代表团出访。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• The Sun Ray decision follows the federal pattern of tolerating broad delegations but insisting on safeguards. “阳光”案的判决仿效联邦容许广泛授权的做法，但又坚持保护措施。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法

9 discreet   

adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的

参考例句：

• He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
• It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。

10 retirements   

退休( retirement的名词复数 )； 退职； 退役； 退休的实例

参考例句：

• We've had two retirements in our office this year. 今年我们办公室已有二人退休。
• Those may take the form of sackings redundancies, temporary layoffs or retirements. 这些形式有开除，作为编余人员，暂时解雇或退休。