Editorial: Pope Benedict XVI's death ends era for the Church but could pave the way for new practice

The death of Pope Benedict XVI this week brings the curtain down on an historic era of two Popes occupying the Vatican.

While Pope Emeritus Benedict stayed in the background to allow his successor to the seat of St Peter, Pope Francis, carry out his Papacy in the manner he sees fit, it was still a highly unusual situation to have two Popes at the same time.

However, this could well become the norm going forward. Pope Benedict had watched very closely as Pope Saint John Paul II saw out the longest reign as Pope for many generations.

He also watched on as Pope Saint John Paul faded slowly and succumbed to the rigors of Parkinson’s disease. Perhaps this witnessing of a great man wasting away as he tried to see out his Papacy, was the reason why Benedict XVI decided that when the time came for him to struggle with the responsibilities of the wearing of the ring of of the Fisherman, that he decided to step aside and allow somebody else to take on the considerable challenge.

It took enormous courage and bravery for Benedict XVI to relinquish the throne and in doing so he has now set a precedent.

There have been suggestions in some circles that Pope Francis will follow suit, but of course he could not do that until such time as Pope Emeritus Benedict had been called home to his Maker - having three Pope’s would be simply untenable.

Pope Francis has been struggling too in recent times with a knee problem resulting in him using a wheelchair quite often. He has also had other health issues and it will not be a major surprise if he follows the example of Pope Benedict and steps down from his position to become Pope Emeritus Francis.

Pope Benedict had a difficult tenure and inherited many problems in the Church, including scandals of various kinds. He found it difficult to make any inroads in tending to these problems - this scholarly servant was more comfortable writing and interpreting doctrine than he was as the head of the Church.

Requiescat in pace, Benedict.