Interesting overview here of the implications around Pope John Paul II’s frail health, including:
- While the pope is sick, who’s running the church?
- If the pope is unable to speak, can he still be pope?
- Why not resign?
- What would happen if the pope became incapacitated?
33 view(s)
1: Umm…the Mafia, same as always?
2: Animatronics are wonderful things…
3: It’s not god’s will…
4: How would that be any different then it is now?
Having been raised catholic, I have no real ability to take this seriuosly.
It’s not something I stay awake at nights worrying about.
There’s a great deal of misunderstanding outside, and even inside, the Catholic Church about how exactly things run. I find that most people tend to think that the Pope is some sort of king, handing down decrees and generally handling the business of Roman Catholicism from his giant, gold-encrusted throne. The reality is much different.
The Pope is not that much different from the pastor of a local church. Sure, he’s in charge and people look to him as the ultimate arbiter of various issues, but there’s an organization beneath him that handles things whether he’s around, or not. The Curia wields enormous authority to handle everything from doctrinal issues to financial affairs. So this was before the Pope’s illness, so it is now. And if the Pope became incapacited, they would continue to handle things.
As far as the Pope’s resignation goes: he’s declared that he wants to make an example out of his decline and eventual death. As Pope, this is a very public demonstration. As a retired Pope? Not so much.
It’s painful to see a once-vibrant man suffer as Pope John Paul II suffers now, but it’s always painful when someone grows near death. That’s the point of his decision to remain Pope: everyone suffers and everyone dies. It’s as much a part of life as living. If we can’t face that, and would rather see the untidy business of death tucked away out of sigh, then our humanity, our compassion, is not so great as it should be.
Well said.