Quick Navigation

Northern Illinois University

NIU Office of Public Affairs


Stephen Haliczer
Stephen Haliczer

To obtain print-quality JPEGs, contact the Office of Public Affairs at (815) 753-1681 or e-mail publicaffairs@niu.edu.


News Release

Contact: Tom Parisi, NIU Office of Public Affairs
(815) 753-3635

February 9, 2005

Tip sheet for story ideas:
Vatican lacks formal procedures for papal retirement

DeKalb, Ill. — Pope John Paul II will miss out on public Ash Wednesday prayers today, underscoring both his frail health and a touchy issue that the Vatican has avoided for centuries: retirement.

Stephen Haliczer, a distinguished research professor at Northern Illinois University and leading expert on the papacy, points out that the last pope to resign was Gregory XII in 1415. “There really aren’t any good procedures in canon law that provide for retirement, and it is an issue because popes are living longer, just like the rest of us,” Haliczer says. “Suppose a pope is incapable of carrying on. Popes can choose to resign or retire but cannot be forced to do so.”

The Vatican has more clearly outlined procedures upon the death of a pope, Haliczer says. “Immediately after a pope dies, messages go out to the cardinals ordering them to come to Rome, since it is their exclusive responsibility to elect his successor. According to the rules of procedure specified by John Paul II, the conclave must begin no less than 15 days or more than 20 days after the pope’s death.”

Haliczer also notes that the election of the next pope will draw unprecedented media coverage. Thousands of journalists are accredited to the Vatican. “Prior to the election of a pope, the cardinals engage in political negotiations, form alliances and pick candidates,” Haliczer says. “This brief time of intense press scrutiny, during which leading cardinals will be called upon to give many interviews about issues that a new pope will have to confront, is both a period of opportunity and danger for candidates. One misstatement can severely cut the credibility of a leading candidate, while an astutely worded response to a reporter’s question can catapult a dark horse into the lead.”

After the 15- to 20-day span, the cardinals will file into the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. All cardinals must take an oath of secrecy before voting can begin. “Even though official procedures allow for numerous votes, it is likely that the voting will be quite brief since a lack of leadership at the top is dangerous for a monarchy like the papacy,” Haliczer says.

Haliczer says prominent cardinals from the developing world have the best chance of succeeding John Paul II.

“This is logical simply because the fastest growing Roman Catholic populations are in the developing world, especially in Latin America, Africa and Asia,” he adds. “It is not impossible, however, that a cardinal from Europe, especially Italy, could be elected. It is widely believed that a candidate from the United States would have little chance because the Vatican does not want to identify the church too closely with the last remaining superpower. The Vatican also has deep disagreements with U.S. foreign policy, especially over the war in Iraq.”

According to Haliczer, some of the leading candidates to be the next pope include Francis Arinze of Nigeria, Diario Castrillon Hoyos of Colombia, Gonfried Danneels of Belgium, Giovanni Battista Re of Italy and Christoph Schonborn of Austria.

Members of the media who would like to arrange an interview with Stephen Haliczer can contact him at shaliczer1@comcast.net.

—30—