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I have just read an article that talks about Pope Benedict
and how tired and run-down he has become to the point where he no longer even
talks to visitors, etc.
This is unfortunate but predictable for someone that will be
85 in April. He is supposedly in good health, both physically and mentally and
genetically too; he has an older brother that is doing quite well.
The interesting point to all of this, is that the pope
himself has said that when a pope can no longer do the job that is required of
him, he should resign.
I have checked and Vatican
law does allow for a papal resignation for cause; the last one to resign was
Pope Gregory XII in 1415 and that was not for ill health but to end The Great
Western Schism where a number of popes claimed the papal throne.
Also, I think Benedict was alluding to the physical state of
the last pope which was pretty bad and painful to watch as he tried speaking
when clearly his physical condition prevented him from doing that in a normal
manner.
So will Benedict be the first modern pope to resign and
retire? Our presidents do with no problems but would it be a problem when a
pope does the same?
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