Popes should retire at 80

[popestpiusx]

[b]The interesting thing about this is that the Pope himself would make the rule, which he has the ability to change at will. It could only be a self-imposed rule and would bind no future Pontiffs. It would be unenforceable. What a joke. These Cardinals should have payed more attention in their theology classes.[/b]




Popes should retire at 80 for the sake of the church, cardinals say
By Ruth Gledhill
Sickness has affected ability to give leadership to Church’s 1.1 billion believers




Catholic masses for the Pope are being held all over the world as the debate rages as to whether the pontiff should have a retirement age
(GILL ALLEN)

FUTURE Popes will have to retire at a fixed age, under secret plans being discussed by Roman Catholic cardinals, ending a tradition of service until death that has lasted two millennia.
According to senior Church sources, cardinals who will meet in conclave to elect the next Pope have discussed among themselves the need to choose someone who is open to a retirement age, probably 80.

They do not want a repeat of the past few years, when the ill-health of Pope John Paul II, 84, has forced him to take an increasingly light hand in directing the Church, responsible for the spiritual health of 1.1 billion believers.



The Church has, in effect, been run by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the ultraconservative head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose nickname is John Paul III but who, at 77, is considered too old to succeed him, and Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Secretary of State.

Also at the heart of every decision is Joaquín Navarro-Valls, the celibate Opus Dei member, a qualified doctor who is the Pope’s press officer and most-trusted adviser.

The Pope was elected in 1978, making him the third longest-serving pontiff in history. He has survived one assassination attempt, a tumour and several other health scares, but Catholic officials believe that this could be the “beginning of the end”.

They confirmed that the Pope’s Parkinson’s disease, an illness that inexorably leads to paralysis of the throat muscles, was causing repeated restrictions of his throat, creating breathing difficulties that were being exacerbated by flu.

His decline has been gradual, over several years.

On some issues, such as the implacable opposition to condom use even in helping the fight against Aids, the resulting conservatism is seen to have damaged the Church’s credibility on the international stage.

A senior source said: “The Church needs direction. Even if it operates in a collegiate way, the Pope is clearly the boss. Therefore it is important to have someone who can continue to operate effectively.

“Although the Pope by his suffering has given witness, everyone knows that in terms of hands-on operation, he has not been hands-on for quite a bit now, for 18 months to two years.”

There are 184 cardinals worldwide in the Church, but those aged over 80 are not eligible to sit in conclave, leaving an electorate of 120. The conclave will not itself have the power to set a retirement age, but the source said that the conclave could be managed to ensure that a retirement age was imposed in future.

The cardinals last met as a group at a consistory called by the Pope in October 2003, but most serve on committees and meet regularly in Rome, where they discuss future policies with fellow cardinals.

“There is a large body of opinion among the cardinals that there should be a retirement age of 80 for the next Pope,” the source said.

“Of course, in a conclave they would not have an opportunity to question the candidates, but if someone was emerging they would have a chance to find out where they stood on that.”

Popes can abdicate, but hardly ever do. When the Pope’s health went into serious decline, there was speculation in Rome that he might invoke Article 332 of the Code of Canon Law and retire early, to Poland. But the Pope, like most of his predecessors, did not consider it his right and believed that it was up to God to decide when his papacy should end.

The last Pope to resign was Gregory XII, who quit in 1415 to end an era of schism. Celestine V, the founder of the Celestine Order, lasted a few months when he was elected at the age of 79 and abdicated in 1294. He was arrested by his successor and died in prison. A handful of earlier Popes also went early, but not by choice. They were mostly exiled.

The Pope’s latest illness has renewed speculation over his successor. Although there was such talk in the years since the assassination attempt in 1981, and many of the early favourites are themselves dead or too old, the apparent seriousness of the Pope’s health has given the process a new urgency.

[toledo_jesus]

American Cardinals?

[azaelia]

I wouldn't doubt it

[Thy Geekdom Come]

What are they so afraid of? Having an ill Holy Father only goes to prove all the stronger that God is working through the Papacy...how could He not be, with how effective our Holy Father is in spite of his illness?

[XIX]

LOL, for a second I though the title said "People should retire at 80."

I was like whaaaaaaat?

[randy_the_clown]

Anyone who thinks the Pope should retire at 80 hasn't experienced this Pope above age 80 and the inspiration that he is. Our world can't see that he is literally living the "law of the gift" that he proclaims. As long as he has life he will give his body, mind, and spirit for his bride. Our world doesn't understand suffering and the good it can do.

[popestpiusx]

Part of the problem is the mass media. We have had bed ridden popes many times, but we didn't have a worlwide media that reported his every move 15 minutes before it happened. With the media being what it is today, the Pope is much more in the public eye. This combined with the common assumption that physical frailty equals an inability to rule and govern, and widespread theological defficiency, even amongst the clergy, lead many to mistakingly call for Papal retirement. But as I noted above, such a decision by a Pontiff would only voluntarily bind himself. No subsequent Pontiff, indeed, not even the one who would make such a rule, would be bound by it. And it is impossible to depose a Pope, so it seems to me that these people are either driven by ignorance, or, more likely, a devious agenda.

[AndreaMercer]

[quote]Our world doesn't understand suffering and the good it can do.

[/quote]

I think this is precicely it. He suffers...and is a living example of Christ's suffering. I never consiter the media's opinion on this topic.

[Scofizzle]

Ya know...trust in God. Is waht it boils down to. The Pope will our Pope untill the good Lord chooses to call him up to the big leagues. If God wants JPII to stay with us for another 100 years he will....another day he will do the same

[BurkeFan]

I'm guessing that it's probably one or two Cardinals....

[Fidei Defensor]

[quote]Celestine V, the founder of the Celestine Order, lasted a few months when he was elected at the age of 79 and abdicated in 1294. He was arrested by his successor and died in prison. A handful of earlier Popes also went early, but not by choice. They were mostly exiled.
[/quote]

Wow. Does anyone have somewhere that i can find more info on those things? I did not know that.

[theculturewarrior]

may he serve the servants of God until the age of 120, or more, as God wills.

So many people are wishing the pope dead. God bless him! I'm guessing that article was from the National Catholic Reporter. They are

G-H-O-U-L-S,


scandal mongers and liars.

[StColette]

[quote name='theculturewarrior' date='Feb 3 2005, 07:21 PM'] may he serve the servants of God until the age of 120, or more, as God wills.
[/quote]
Amen

[Cathurian]

[quote name='StColette' date='Feb 3 2005, 08:29 PM'] Amen [/quote]
AMEN!

Let's say a few prayers for the Pope's continued health and holy service and leadership, if God so wills:

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

[popestpiusx]

[quote name='fidei defensor' date='Feb 3 2005, 07:32 PM']
Wow. Does anyone have somewhere that i can find more info on those things? I did not know that. [/quote]
[quote]Celestine V, the founder of the Celestine Order, lasted a few months when he was elected at the age of 79 and abdicated in 1294. He was arrested by his successor and died in prison. A handful of earlier Popes also went early, but not by choice. They were mostly exiled. [/quote]

Celestine V did not found any orders that I am aware of. His name (prior to election) was Peter the Hermit. The conclave had been debating for about three years and could not cpome to any conclusions (I guess everyone was a sedevecantist during those years ). He wrote the Cardinals a nasty letter, from his cave, telling them that if they did not elect a Pope soon, God would send some sort of chastisment or other. So they elected him, much to his chagrin. He was a very holy man (now canonized) but was a miserable Pope. He had no clue what a geo-political mess the Vatican was mixed up in at the time. After all, he was a hermit. So after about five months he said to hell with it and resigned and went back to his cave.

There are a couple others who resigned. There were several who were exiled as well, but they didn't resign, so I don't know what is being referred to there.