"Do not go down from the cross," thought John Paul II, thus manifesting his choice and offering to the world his martyrdom. The ministry of Peter is not suitable to the normal resignation: makes it similar to an employee of the state.

In 1294, like today, similar words of resignation were used by Celestine V, "the Pope of the great refusal".

"I Pope Celestine V, driven by legitimate reasons for humility and weakness of my body and the malice of the people, in order to catch up, with the consolation of the old life, the tranquility lost, abandon freely and spontaneously the pontificate, and renounce specifically to the throne, dignity, honor and the burden it entails, being hereby henceforth the College of Cardinals to choose and provide, in accordance with canon law, a pastor of the Universal Church. "