Papal abdication occurs in the Catholic Church when the Poperesigns his office.In 1294, Pope Celestine V promulgated a Canon law explicitly establishing the right to resign the office of Pope, and did so himself after being in office only about five months. Before his election, he had lived as a hermit, and afterwards considered himself unworthy to fulfill the duties of the papacy. He lived some two years after his abdication.
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