Nothing has changed in his status, role or power since Francis was elected the 266th pope on March 13, 2013.
Even though Francis is the bishop of Rome, no explicit provision exists for the pope if he similarly becomes “impeded.” Canon 335 declares simply that when the Holy See is “vacant or entirely impeded,” nothing can be altered in the governance of the church.
They created a canonical crowd-sourcing initiative to craft a new church law regulating the office of a retired pope as well as norms to apply when a pope is unable to govern, either temporarily or permanently.
He certifies the pope’s death, seals the papal apartments and prepares for the pope’s burial before a conclave to elect a new pope.
The pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter, the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ and the pastor of the universal Catholic Church on Earth, according to the church’s in-house canon law.
.jpeg?auto=webp&width=800)
.jpeg?auto=webp&width=800)
