Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: The sudden and unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 broke a centuries-old tradition within Roman Catholicism of serviceuntil-death of its top leader.If, as many expect, Pope Francis I eventually follows Benedict's lead, it is likely that a new and enduring tradition will have been effected.1 The astounding transformation of the Roman Catholic Church under the younger and energized Francis underscores the importance of Benedict's courageous decision.Of the major Western religious traditions in the United States, only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints retains the service-untildeath policy for its top leader.For more than a century following its founding in 1830, longevity was such that physical or mental incapacitation were not a significant issue.Medical science was not sufficiently advanced to be able to prolong life once a terminal illness began, and lifespan was not sufficiently long that age-related dementia was significant, if even present.However, advances in medicine have increased lifespan without concomitantly avoiding age-associated medical issues, most notably dementia.This has created a problem for Church leadership since policy holds that members of the Quorum of the Twelve 1. See
Authors: Gregory A. Prince, Lester E. Bush, Brent N. Rushforth
Language: English
Subfield: History
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2474104041