A lot we do not know about the health of the Pope. Of course that has been SOP at the Vatican for centuries.
PopeWatch: Stroke?
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
With the best care, Pope Francis could possibly remain like this for the next few years…He seems alert enough for his minders to bring him out to an audience as needed.
Officially the Secretary of State would manage affairs, that would be Parolin…
[…] J.D.When It Comes to Convalescence, Pope Francis Keeps His Own Counsel – Francis X. RoccaPopeWatch: Stroke? – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at the American […]
Both Popes and Kings serve for life but that does not mean they are capable for life. Pope Leo XIII was reasonably healthy but Benedict knew his limitations whether we were aware of all his situation or not. Future pontiffs could learn a valuable lesson from historical examples.
I would argue that 1000 years of European monarchy (and 2000 years of papal rule) would demonstrate that abdication is generally not the way to go. Benedict was surely not the first pope to decline in health before the end, yet he was only the second to abdicate. Further, his post abdication time showed that he could have quietly reigned during that time. (I think many of us could be quite happy with a quieter Vatican.) Also, if the conclave were held at the time of Benedict’s death, we may have had a far different result.