Ingravescentem aetatem

Ingravescentem aetatem
Latin for 'The advanced age'
Motu proprio of Pope Paul VI
Coat of arms of Pope Paul VI
Signature date 21 November 1970
SubjectOn the retirement age for Cardinals
Text
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Ingravescentem aetatem (Ecclesiastical Latin: [iŋɡraveˈʃentem eˈtatem]) is a document issued by Pope Paul VI, dated 21 November 1970. It is divided into 8 chapters. The Latin title is taken from the incipit, and translates to "advancing age". It established a rule that only cardinals who have not reached the age of 80 can participate in a conclave.

In 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI announced his plan to resign as pope, he described his reasoning with the same phrase: ingravescente aetate.[1]

  1. ^ Faggioli, Massimo (2015). Pope Francis: Tradition in Transition. Paulist Press. ISBN 9781587684159. Retrieved 30 October 2017.