Celestyn V a problem zrzeczenia się urzędu przez Biskupa Rzymskiego. Historia pewnego przypadku

Abstract

The spectacular resignation of Pope Celestine V on 13 December 1294 gave late-Medieval theologians and canonists a significant impulse to reflect on the possibility and procedure of abdication from the office of the Bishop of Rome. The article discusses the historical background to the election and resignation of Celestine V, formerly a pious hermit from the Abruzzi region mountains, who was raised to the Papacy by a decision of the conclave of 5 July 1294. His renunciation after only five months and nine days came as a great surprise to his contemporaries and caused tension in the Church, especially in the context of the problem with the Spirituals and the Colonna cardinals’ rebellion. Eminent theologians of the Middle Ages joined the discussion on the papal right to abdicate; these included Peter Olivi in his De renuntiatione papae and in his letter to Conrad of Offida as well as Giles of Rome in his De renunciatione papae. Both advocated the entitlement of any Bishop of Rome to abdication.