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Cologne - Archbishop Cardinal Joachim Meisner (74), Pope Benedict XVI. (81) of his resignation from the Office of the Archbishop offered. It should still stay longer in office, took out EXPRESS.
Bishops must offer their resignation to the pope when they are 75 years old. As a rule, they say, they do so up to six months in advance. Meisner - since 1983, Cardinal and Archbishop of Cologne since 1989 - will celebrate on 25 December his 75th Birthday.
According EXPRESS information Meisner announced in early November at the seminary that he had offered to the pope's resignation. "The Cardinal of the Holy Father wrote a letter with the corresponding content" confirmed Diocese spokesman Chris toph Heckeley. "The letter was sent out as normal in the mail." What the Archbishop has just written in any language, whether he wrote a long or short letter - "I do not know either," admits Christopher Heckeley.
The "Code of Canon Law, the Code of the Catholic Church, provides no specific requirements. It says simply: "With the completion of the 75th Age offers a bishop to the pope his resignation. "
This scheme is not so old - it was recorded in 1983 by Pope John Paul II in Canon Law. The pope must accept his resignation did not. And with bishops, who are both Cardinal, he does it is usually not - most of them remain in office until they are 80 years old. So as long as they can choose according to the canon also a new pope.
More to the office of the bishops may show up in the info box!
"If the Holy Father asks me, I move on," Meisner had said several months ago. But even if the pope does not respond, Meisner remains in office. In Rome, is already being discussed to extend the term of office of bishops again - because their pensions are too many with the church on the bag ...! And also: Pope Benedict XVI. itself is already 82 years old in just under five months.
Also of interest
The terms of office of the bishops
