# Pope - can a pope retire?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-can-a-pope-retire/208584>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 20, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-can-a-pope-retire/208584 "2003-10-20T21:24:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ticklesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ticklesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ticklesome)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-can-a-pope-retire/208584/1 "2003-10-20T21:24:03Z")

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It seems harsh to keep the present Pontiff in harness when he is so frail and ill. Perhaps he does want to carry on but even so it is a sad situation.  
Do you know of a case when a Pope retired from his duties due to illness and if so, who fills in for him. All right, no-one could take his place really but you get what I mean.  
And if it hasn’t ever happened, don’t you think they should make contingency plans after so many centuries.

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**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-can-a-pope-retire/208584/2 "2003-10-20T21:30:49Z")

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Yes.

[http://slate.msn.com/id/1007125/](http://slate.msn.com/id/1007125/)

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**Author:** ![Ticklesome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Ticklesome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ticklesome)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-can-a-pope-retire/208584/3 "2003-10-20T21:42:17Z")

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Thanks Revtim. Looks as if some of the precedents were dubious, so this Pope might not find the concept of abdication an honourable one.