Apr 23, 2023 · 55 min · 13 segments
Pope Francis was recently ill. That's serious at 86. When it's time for a successor, who might that be? Vatican advisor Fr. Michael Collins has some interesting ideas.
But there must be some concern, particularly because of his age and because of his history of medical problems.
He was given intravenous antibiotics and by Saturday he'd actually been dispatched from the hospital and was able to carry on with his ceremonies.
I mean, that's, that's very perceptive because although the public figure looks as if he's, you know, everything back to normal, carry on there's nothing to see here folks the reality is yes he did turn 86 in december of last year so he's in his 87th year if you like um and it's strange also i've noticed over the last couple of years he's been talking about retiring and he's given oblique references to retiring and abdicating when the time would come when he isn't able to do the job.
He said he's got his advisors prepped to tell him that this is the moment to go because you're beginning to lose it.
And then a couple of weeks, no, about six weeks ago, he said that he thought the papacy was for life.
And that also is not a good sign when the leader says, you see, we don't have a system in the Catholic Church now for a pope to retire at a particular age.
When Pope Benedict retired just 10 years ago, he was 85 and he said you know i'm too old for the job i need i need extra force i need physical energy to travel i'm not able to do this so i've handed the job over to somebody younger and the person who's younger was the 76 year old jorge mario bergorio who became the first american latin american pope And he's done his 10 years.
So the question is, now that Pope Benedict has died, maybe it's time for him to seriously think about wrapping up at 86.
I mean, he might think that he's fine, but people around him are noticing slippage and I suppose he's trying to lock in his legacy which is a very human thing to do and he has established his legacy and I would say to him if I was talking to him and I'm not obviously but I just feel he's established his legacy he's got the terrific reputation in helping the poorest of the poor, in establishing hospices.
Well, I don't want to mention particular items, but care for those who are migrants, who are humanly trafficked, the climate change, which is going to inflict untold damage and human suffering, as well as other animal life suffering across the globe over the next century.
You'll always find people who are not happy with him for doing one thing or another and not doing something.
So maybe this is, to my mind, the time to begin to wrap up and let go and let a space for a younger person.
But prior to the resignation of his successor, of his predecessor, it was unthinkable that a pope would resign.
But there must be some concern, particularly because of his age and because of his history of medical problems.
He was given intravenous antibiotics and by Saturday he'd actually been dispatched from the hospital and was able to carry on with his ceremonies.
I mean, that's, that's very perceptive because although the public figure looks as if he's, you know, everything back to normal, carry on there's nothing to see here folks the reality is yes he did turn 86 in december of last year so he's in his 87th year if you like um and it's strange also i've noticed over the last couple of years he's been talking about retiring and he's given oblique references to retiring and abdicating when the time would come when he isn't able to do the job.
He said he's got his advisors prepped to tell him that this is the moment to go because you're beginning to lose it.
And then a couple of weeks, no, about six weeks ago, he said that he thought the papacy was for life.
And that also is not a good sign when the leader says, you see, we don't have a system in the Catholic Church now for a pope to retire at a particular age.
When Pope Benedict retired just 10 years ago, he was 85 and he said you know i'm too old for the job i need i need extra force i need physical energy to travel i'm not able to do this so i've handed the job over to somebody younger and the person who's younger was the 76 year old jorge mario bergorio who became the first american latin american pope And he's done his 10 years.
So the question is, now that Pope Benedict has died, maybe it's time for him to seriously think about wrapping up at 86.
I mean, he might think that he's fine, but people around him are noticing slippage and I suppose he's trying to lock in his legacy which is a very human thing to do and he has established his legacy and I would say to him if I was talking to him and I'm not obviously but I just feel he's established his legacy he's got the terrific reputation in helping the poorest of the poor, in establishing hospices.
Well, I don't want to mention particular items, but care for those who are migrants, who are humanly trafficked, the climate change, which is going to inflict untold damage and human suffering, as well as other animal life suffering across the globe over the next century.
You'll always find people who are not happy with him for doing one thing or another and not doing something.
So maybe this is, to my mind, the time to begin to wrap up and let go and let a space for a younger person.
But prior to the resignation of his successor, of his predecessor, it was unthinkable that a pope would resign.
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