Why is Pope Innocent called innocent?

Election to the papacy He was only thirty-seven years old at the time. He took the name Innocent III, maybe as a reference to his predecessor Innocent II (1130–1143), who had succeeded in asserting the papacy’s authority over the emperor (in contrast with Celestine III’s recent policy).

Can a pope be forced to resign?

A papal renunciation (Latin: renuntiatio) also called a papal abdication, occurs when the reigning pope of the Catholic Church voluntarily steps down from his position. As the reign of the pope has conventionally been from election until death, papal renunciation is an uncommon event.

Who can remove a pope from office?

So the Pope is supreme within the law, but the Council is supreme over the law. As a result, a Council can remove a pope. In fact, it’s happened several times. The Councils of Pisa, Constance, and Basel all fired one pope or another.

How can a pope resign?

Canon (Church) Law says a pope can resign but the decision must be taken freely. In 2013, Francis’s predecessor, Benedict, became the first pontiff in six centuries to resign. Benedict, then 85, abdicated because he said he no longer had the strength to run the Church.

What did Pope Innocent do?

Elected pope on January 8, 1198, Innocent III reformed the Roman Curia, reestablished and expanded the pope’s authority over the Papal States, worked tirelessly to launch Crusades to recover the Holy Land, combated heresy in Italy and southern France, shaped a powerful and original doctrine of papal power within the …

Can a pope be impeached?

CAN A POPE BE DEPOSED? Not these days. He can die in office or resign of his own free will. There is no impeachment procedure for a pope.

Can the pope fire a priest?

In the Catholic Church, a bishop, priest, or deacon may be dismissed from the clerical state as a penalty for certain grave offences, or by a papal decree granted for grave reasons. This may be because of a serious criminal conviction, heresy, or similar matter.

What was John’s stated reason for swearing fealty to the pope?

John refused to accept Stephen, and Innocent finally excommunicated the king for his obstinacy in 1209. However, a settlement was concluded between Innocent and John in 1213. In return for Innocent’s support, John subjected his kingdom to the pope and swore homage and fealty to him.

Is the Pope immune from prosecution?

The pope is immune from prosecution under the local laws of the Vatican. It’s also a principle of customary international law that heads of state enjoy immunity from prosecution. That includes the pope, who is both the head of the church and the head of Vatican City.

When did the Pope lose power?

On July 18, 1536, the English Parliament passed the law titled “An Act Extinguishing the authority of the bishop of Rome” (28 Hen. 8 c. 10). This was in fact one of a series of laws which had been passed during the previous four years, severing England from the pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

Why was the Pope against the Magna Carta?

He was infuriated by the arrogant behaviour of the 25 barons, elected to enforce Magna Carta under its security clause, and by the continuing challenge to the authority of his local officials. John had hoped that the charter would bring peace and order, and then become no more than a vague symbol of good government.