Why must a Pope remain Pope until his death?

[Wat_Tyler]

This seems very counter-productive for the church - how much work can get done under a dying Pontiff, or a frail old man whose mental capacity slowly dwindles? That cannot be particularly good for church governance. Can a pope not abdicate?
I don't particularly mean this in relation to the current Pope, it's more of a general question.

[expatriot]

1. Because he is the "rock" of the Church, the successor of Christ himself.

So it is written, so let it be done.

[liberalpragmatist]

2. They don't have to

They can abdicate and historically a few have, but it's rare and JPII wants to stay on - he has said in the past he will not abdicate.

[Wat_Tyler]

5. Ah. So it can be done. I wasn't sure of that.

Thanks.

[Haymare22]

3. Because....

...the dolly they push him around on only fits him.

[Bluebear]

4. The job sucks, really. No retirement possible. Very "GOP"!

nt

[Alex146]

6. I suspect that the current pope

has very little control over weather he stays or goes. I would imagine that somewhere in the vatican there is a Catholic version of Karal Rove who has seen his power greatly rise with the Pope's ill health. Maybe there are alot of them. In any case it seems obvious that the people the Pope has elevated to positions of power don't want to see him go, because of course their jobs will then be on the line.

[Wat_Tyler]

7. So, would there be a cabal of Cardinals who hold the real power,

with the Pope remaining purely as a figurehead?

[chelsea0011]

8. He doesn't have to. He can resign.

The question is why does this Pope keep on going. The guy obviously needs to step down.

[Old Mouse]

9. He has made it clear

over and over he wants to completely fulfill his duty to his god.

I think people confuse his position with a political one. He wields a lot of global political power, but that is really not what the job is about.

[Grey Ranks]

10. Here is why

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_IV

[Anarcho-Socialist]

11. A cardinal should be allowed to challenge the Pope to combat

and if victorious should be declared Pope.

[bhunt70]

12. he probably doesnt think of it as a job but more of a divine...

responsibility. When you have that on your shoulders I would think it would be something you do not think of "not doing", hence death and God will be the judge of when it is time to pass the mantle.

[Wat_Tyler]

14. Yes, we've had a few monarchs with the same thoughts.

Not always pretty.

[Warren Stupidity]

13. Because after he dies

he gets all kind of stinky and it is hard for him to make appearances?