What? 17 Popes Quit? Why? You’ll Be Surprised!

John XVIII

John XVIII (January 1003-June 1009) became pope in the days before celibacy was required of priests. He was born the son of a priest named Leo and was elected pope on Christmas during a period of political turmoil. Little was written of him other than administrative records – he confirmed several churches and convents, established dioceses, received an honor by Germany’s King Henry II and approved two archbishops. Apparently he resigned after “energetically” opposing two rebel archbishops and enlisting the help of the emperor. His epitaph relates that he “subdued the Greeks and dislodged schism” or division in the church. Apparently he stepped down as pope and died as a monk at St. Paul's near Rome.

Benedict IX

Benedict IX is the only pope to serve three times (October 1032-September 1044, then April 1045-May 1045 and finally November 1047-July 1048). A member of a powerful family, his father bribed, manipulated and threatened the Roman clergy to have his 17-year-old son elected pope although the boy had no priestly experience or training. In the Liber Gomorrhianus, St. Peter Damian describes him as “feasting on immorality” and “a demon from hell in the disguise of a priest” guilty of bribery, orgies and open sexual perversion, including bestiality. Most historians cite Benedict IX as the worst in the history of the papacy. After leaving office three times amid various scandalous intrigues, he was forced to flee to the Abbey of Grottaferrata, where he repented of his sins and spent the rest of his life doing penance. The next popes introduced many reforms, such as making the cardinals the papal electors. Benedict IX is definitely a pope that the church would prefer to forget.

Celestine V

Celestine V served for only six months in 1294. He was an 84-year-old Benedictine hermit renowned for his spirituality. When the cardinals could not elect a pope, they agreed to elect a priest with no political ambitions. Reluctantly he agreed and rode into Rome on a donkey. With no administrative experience, he was overwhelmed by the job and authored the terms by which a pope can resign – which are still followed today. He then stepped down. He was canonized a saint in 1313 and his remains are still venerated to this day. His successor, Pope Boniface VIII, had him imprisoned so that there would be no attempt to place him on the throne again. Highly controversial for stepping down, he is described in Dante’s The Divine Comedy as burning in Hell for having shirked his responsibilities as pope.

Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI resigned effective February 28, 2013, citing his health and age. It is expected that he will live out his life in solitude at a residence constructed for him at the nearby monastery Mater Ecclesiae located in the Vatican Gardens. He cited his advanced age, his deteriorating strength and the physical and mental demands of the papacy. He said he would continue to serve the church "through a life dedicated to prayer." According to a statement from the Vatican the timing of the resignation was not caused by any specific illness, but was to "avoid that exhausting rush of Easter engagements." It is speculated that he will withdraw from the public eye to avoid any possibility of the appearance of any rivalry with his successor.

^{Benedict XVI viewing the remains of Pope Celestine}