Pope to Retire???

[Dream]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Pope to Stay in Hospital; Aide Talks of Retirement

[/font] [font=Verdana,Sans-serif]By Philip Pullella[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican said Monday Pope John Paul would remain in hospital for a few more days as his top aide spoke openly about the possibility of the frail Pontiff eventually retiring for the good of the Church.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]In its latest health bulletin the Vatican said that although the 84-year old Pope was improving, he would stay in Rome's Gemelli hospital at least until Thursday as a precaution.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]He was rushed there just before midnight last Tuesday with acute breathing problems brought on by a bout of influenza. The Vatican originally said he would spend just a week in hospital.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]His latest hospitalization once again revived debate on what the Church would do if he became permanently incapacitated and raised speculation that he might decide to retire instead of rule for life as Pontiffs traditionally do.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican Secretary of State, was asked at a Vatican event Monday night if the latest health problems had made the Pope reflect on possible retirement.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]"Let's leave that up to the conscience of the Pope," said Sodano, who in the past has brushed off talk of Papal retirement.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]"If there is a man of the Church who is guided by the Holy Spirit, if there is a man who loves the Church more than anyone else, if there is a man who is possessed with marvelous wisdom, it is the Pope," Sodano said.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]"We have to have enormous faith in him. He knows what he has to do," he added.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]LAST RESIGNATION WAS 700 YEARS AGO[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Church law says a Pope can resign, but it is a highly rare event. The last Pope to resign willingly was Celestine V, who stepped down in 1294. Gregory XII reluctantly abdicated in 1415 when more than one Pope was reigning at the same time.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]At an appearance from his hospital window Sunday the Pope looked very weak, was barely able to recite a brief blessing and relied on an aide to read his message.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Speaking through the aide, he told the faithful he was still "serving the Church and all humanity" even while sick.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Sodano was also asked if the Pope, who suffers from various illnesses, including Parkinson's disease and severe arthritis, could continue to run the Church if he could barely speak.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]He said: "Certainly ... unlike in society, in the Church age is very useful. For the Church the wisdom of an old man is a gift."[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]The Vatican said earlier Monday that doctors would decide Thursday morning about when the Pope could return to the Vatican.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Wednesday, the Pope will miss Ash Wednesday services marking the start of Lent for the first time in his 26-year-old pontificate. American Cardinal James Stafford will preside at the ceremony on the Pope's behalf.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Ironically, another event the Pope looks set to miss is a Mass in St Peter's Basilica Friday to mark the day the Roman Catholic Church dedicates each year to sick people.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to have seen the Pope Tuesday but will instead discuss the international situation with Sodano.[/font]

[font=Verdana,Sans-serif](Additional reporting by Crispian Balmer)
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[font=Verdana,Sans-serif]http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050207/2005-02-07T184248Z_01_L079813_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-POPE-DC.html
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[Wiffey]

I sure hope he doesn't retire...

 

[faerieevaH]

I don't see where the top aide says he will retire, just that it is up to the conscience of the Pope, and he has already said he would go on, I believe?

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

I sure hope he doesn't retire...

My wife is an RN that has been working in elder care/hospice industry for almost 30 years.

She's seen the pictures of him and followed his hospitialization for the flu.

She says that retirement isn't going to be necessary, if you catch my meaning.

 

[D'Ann]

Thanks DT,

Interesting article. I hope the Pope doesn't retire... He has the power to "delegate" some work to his aides...

God's Peace,

D'Ann

 

[krstlros]

Once, when the subject of his retirement came up, the Pope said the only person who will decide when he retires is God. Until then, his work isn't done. And when God calls him up to Heaven, his work is done.

 

[Benedicta00]

He said: "Certainly ... unlike in society, in the Church age is very useful. For the Church the wisdom of an old man is a gift."

He is so cool.

 

[rhyddid_rose]

To Life Immortal

I didn't know that the Pope could retire; I thought once you're the Pope, you're the Pope until you die.

I like the Pope; he seems like a nice person and brave too.


Peace and Long Life
~*~ бабочка ~*~

 

[ukok]

Obviously I can't speak for the accuracy of this article, but it would appear from this that the situation has been much graver than thought

"Church officials revealed that the Pope's condition was more serious than had been claimed and that he had nearly died last Tuesday night with an inflamed windpipe and breathing difficulties brought on by flu. He was still "not out of danger", they said."

source

God Bless.

 

[JJM]

EWTN radio said he was 10 minutes from death when they took him to the hospital.

 

[D'Ann]

I wonder why at first, the public was told that Pope John Paul's health was not in grave danger and now, about a week later, it is being reported that he was close to death. Why the confusing statements, I wonder?

We must pray for Pope John Paul earnestly. I really love him and think well of him.

God's Peace,

D'Ann

 

[krstlros]

Unfortunately, sometimes people read more into something someone says than what it really means. And also, unfortunately, there can be those who may be keeping the story of the Pope's health just to get a story.

 

[krstlros]

The rumor mill can bi incidious.

 

[Alexis OCA]

I wonder why at first, the public was told that Pope John Paul's health was not in grave danger and now, about a week later, it is being reported that he was close to death. Why the confusing statements, I wonder?

We must pray for Pope John Paul earnestly. I really love him and think well of him.

God's Peace,

D'Ann

I get the impression that is standard Vatican practice....they will tell us what we need to know when we need to know it. I have no problem with that.

Regards.

 

[Canadian75]

My wife is an RN that has been working in elder care/hospice industry for almost 30 years.

She's seen the pictures of him and followed his hospitialization for the flu.

She says that retirement isn't going to be necessary, if you catch my meaning.

Oh, I catch your meaning and I agree. At his age and with his health problems, I don't think he will retire...he'll just end his term as popes in the past have. I do hope in the event that he is put on some sort of incapacitating life support and unable to anything other than breathe, there is some kind of plan in place. After all, modern medicine has advanced quite a bit in the past few decades and anyone can be kept alive but be completely incapacitated.

 

[Seek Ye First]

Pope John Paul 2nd of the labour of the sun. What a beautiful Pope. I will pray for him.

 

[ThereseOfLisieux]

Until JPII, the rule was, "The Pope is never sick until he's dead". In the past we haven't been given any info on the Popes health until we were told that he had died. This has changed with this Pope. I think there are a couple of reasons, one, when the Pope is shot in front of the world the Vatican has to tell us something. Two, when it is obvious that the Pope is ill, (ie. Parkinsons disease) people will come up with all kinds of scenerios, most of them worse than the truth.

It doesn't surprise me that the Vatican doesn't tell us when the Pope is in danger of death. Although we don't want to think about it, I think we should all realise that whether he comes out of the hospital this time or not, he is nearing the end of his time on earth. God bless our Holy Father.

 

[AdJesumPerMariam]

I pray he lives longer & doesn't retire! God knows what is best, though...........

 

[BjBarnett]

God Bless Pope John Paul II. I believe one day we will be calling him John Paul II the Great. I hope he doesnt retire but I hope he doesnt die either id terribly miss John Paul II if something happened to him as I believe we all would.

 

[Mystery5]

I love our Holy Father very much. However, in this day and age, with the help of modern medicine, it's possible to extend life to the point where it is far more likely that one will end up senile. I'm not saying that the Pope is, but old folks often don't always have the judgement to know when to stop driving, or sell their home and move into assisted living.

In other times, this Pope would already be dead. In those days,people couldn't be kept alive when they were this frail. The fact of the matter is that it's a rare thing for a 90 year old to be sharp as a tack. I'm an RN and rarely encounter one in my work. It's always a delight to me when I do, but most folks over 90 have noticable memory problems. And Parkinson's disease often has a cognitive and emotional effect on people. That's a fact of life.

On the other hand, the Church has many members, the Pope has a huge support staff, and I think that no matter what things will be taken care of. So I won't worry about it.