ABDICATION

(L. abdicationem ); 1) The voluntary surrender of the crown by the monarch ; 2) Voluntary renunciation of an office takes effect only when the renunciation is made freely, manifested in a legitimate form and accepted by the competent superior. This is based on the principle that when an office is created or a provision is made by the superior, the same superior has to accept the renunciation. However, in the cases of resignation of a Roman Pontiff and a Diocesan Administrator acceptance is not required (see “resignation”).