How does a Pope know when it's time to go? When is he is no longer

[KoKo]

able to perform his ceremonial duties? And, how do we know that the Popes who are in failing health for 10 years or more..aren't being run by the "Cardinals" who may have "power" problems of their own?

I think that the Cardinals asking that their be "Pope Term Limits" are heading in the right direction. What good does it do the Catholic Community" to have Popes who can't really be in "touch" with their "worldwide" congregations? If they are ill and failing then the Cardinals do it anyway. So, why not just force a Pope to retire and elect a new one. :shrug:

On Edit: In interest of "Disclosure" I'm an Episcopalian (I know, don't laugh)..but married to a Catholic)

[Cuban_Liberal]

1. One word: tradition.

That's your answer, in a nutshell.

[KoKo]

8. Maybe an "effective Pope" needs to break with "Tradition," though.

As I said in my "edit," you need to understand I am from the "Reformation Tradition." But, we still have a strong alliance with the Catholic Church we broke away from. There have even been movements for the Episcopalians/Anglicans to unite once again with the Catholics.

But, I couldn't deal, personally, with these very old men who seem to always be failing...as the head of my church. I think that when you have to be "wheeled around" it's time to "gracefully" leave. But, I understand those who say "God must decide." But, just like Bush...how do I trust a "mortal" to understand whether it's God or Ego telling one to "hang in."

Now, I do understand that Catholics believe that the Pope is next to God and that there's a special relationship there. But....I just wonder in these modern times...if that "relationship" is ego or God...once again.

:shrug:

[alcuno]

10. Don't be taken in by the frail facade, this is one tough pope.

He has a will of iron and still keeps a very heavy schedule. He has traveled to more countries than any other pope, celebrates mass regularly, continues on with Parkinson's, and survived being shot.

He's not going anywhere until he's "wheels up." The Catholics I know, and I'm one of them, don't want it any other way. He is a rock.

On Edit: AND he brought down communism and the former Soviet Union.

[henrik larssonisking]

11. i concur with what you say.

[DemBones DemBones]

14. What if you had to be wheeled around? Would you suddenly want to die?

Mobility is not what makes us human.

I applaud the pope for making the world confront the reality of his aging and disability due to Parksinson's disease. Why should he retire if he can still do his job?

[Speck Tater]

2. When he's too pooped to pope? Well, you asked. (NT)

[htuttle]

5. I see, you mean when he's all poped out?

[DrWeird]

7. He's unpoopular.

damn tv.

[EVDebs]

3. He's afraid of the St Malachy prophesy.... eom

[henrik larssonisking]

4. lol im not laughing, much

im not sure about term limits, the tradition has always been that the only person who can remove the pope is god, ie goes to the great baseball stadium in the sky. You would actually be surprised how much info the pope has at his fingertips, reports from parishes are passed up through the chain of command, i once spoke to a vatican priest who likened the vatican to the worlds largest intelligence agency with the amount of info flooding in.

[LostInAnomie]

6. What happens if the Pope falls into a coma, or is brain dead?

Will they allow him to live on machines and not appoint a new Pope, or take the position from him and give it to someone else?

[DrWeird]

9. IMHO, they quickly and discretely pull the plug...

to avoid an embarassing controversy regarding euthanasia.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1210232

[henrik larssonisking]

12. interesting question

no idea what they would do, but i suspect that there are contingencies for all situations.

[jmm]

13. John Paul II has been Pope for over 25 years

but I doubt he would've lived this long if he was born a hundred years earlier. The church hasn't really had to deal with the problem of a slowly ailing Pope before because during most of the church's history there hasn't been much in the way of medical technology to help people deal with prolonged and/or debilitating illnesses. Catholicism isn't know for swift change so I doubt there will be Pope term limits in my life time to deal with this problem.

[Spinzonner]

15. I think this one will only go

when they pry his Crucifix from his cold, cold hands

[n2mark]

16. I guess the same question can be asked

what happens if the President of the US went in a coma, the VP would assume responsibilities, so there must be some cover for the pope too until he dies.

[burn the bush]

17. when he says condoms are not to be used even to prevent aids

then you know, he needs to go.

[Cleita]

18. I think they should retire rather than die in office,

which is the tradition. You'd better believe others are running the show behind the scenes, yet I think it's cruel and unusual punishment to make the Pope still have to be the figurehead for important church events. That has to be so trying for him.