A papal renunciation also called a papal abdication, occurs when the current pope of the Catholic Church voluntarily resigns his position. As a pope's time in office has conventionally lasted from his election until his death, a papal renunciation is an uncommon event. Before the 21st century, only five popes unambiguously resigned with historical certainty, all between the 10th and 15th centuries. Additionally, there are disputed claims of four popes having resigned, dating from the 3rd to the 11th centuries; a fifth disputed case may have involved an antipope.
Image: Pope Sylvester III – Nuremberg chronicles f 188v 1
Image: B Gregor VI
Image: Giulio cesare bedeschini, san pietro celestino, 1613, dall'arcivescovado dell'aquila (cropped)
Image: Benedykt XVI (2010 10 17) 4
Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI took effect on 28 February 2013 at 20:00 CET, following his announcement of it on 11 February. It made him the first pope to relinquish the office since Gregory XII was forced to resign in 1415 to end the Western Schism, and the first pope to voluntarily resign since Celestine V in 1294.
Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
Benedict XVI in the popemobile at final Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter's Square on 27 February 2013
