Posted on 04/20/2005 12:33:51 AM PDT by BigSkyFreeper
VATICAN CITY - The new Pope Benedict XVI has no apparent history of chronic health problems, but the 78-year-old German has been hospitalized at least twice since the early 1990s, according to records and reports.
In September 1991, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that temporarily affected his left field of vision, according to the veteran Vatican journalist John Allen in his 2000 book "Cardinal Ratzinger." There is no indication that it left any lingering health difficulties.
In August 1992, he cut his head after slipping in the bathroom during a vacation in the Italian Alps, the Italian news agency ANSA reported at the time.
Thomas Frauenlob, director of St. Michael's seminary in Traunstein where the pope studied as a youth and still visits annually, said he had never heard of any major ailments.
"He seems healthy," said Frauenlob, who last saw him over the New Year's holiday. "He comes and eats and drinks whatever he wants."
But the Rev. Thomas Reese, an expert on Vatican affairs, believed the new pontiff's health was "not that good" during the past year. He gave no specifics.
Good luck, boys. That old guy looks pretty good for 78.
Good Heavens, these pigs are already starting a death watch! JPII is barely in the grave, Pope Benedict is not in the chair for 24hours and these ba$tard$ have him on the way out....
The MSM is part and parcel the culture of death and all things immoral.
I found this news hopeful at cathnews.com:
Reflecting the Vatican view that Europe must fight to retain its Christian identity, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has said that bringing Turkey into the European Union would put European culture at risk.--Ratzinger asserts Vatican stand against Turkey EU membership
"Europe is a cultural and not a geographical continent," he said.
I'm trying to figure out how to rephrase that last part for the Anglosphere.
And I'm guessing that the new pope will last longer than JP-I...
I've heard that in the media. They hope that Benedict XVI is nothing more than a "stopgap".
I'm no fan of the MSM, but on the strength of this one story, to say they are "hoping" for B16 to be a short-timer is a bit harsh. The AP are instead doing what they usually do, which is pandering to the public's idle curiosity. The minute people hear that B16 is the oldest elected pope in over a hundred years, they start wondering if this is going to be an instant replay of JPI. Hopefully not -- personally, I'd love to see him hit 100!
Though not a Catholic, I will be praying that the new pope has a long life. It's in the interest of us all. (Well, maybe not liberals.)
urged the new pope to appoint a commission to review church policy on condoms, to establish a pontifical academy on women's rights in the church, and to welcome back those marginalized over the last quarter-century -- including gays and lesbians...
This is the guy who's been in charge of stifling dissent in the church," said lawyer Carmen Durso...,
The election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI rankled those who advocate married priests, a bigger role for women within the church and softening its policy on homosexuality, birth control, euthanasia and abortion.
Note the mention of euthanasia.
The MSM hates him because he's not some third-world leftie. They're disgustingly obvious in their biases, almost like their vendetta against DeLay.
It's to the point now, they don't care if their bias is showing.
Blind and clueless. I caught part of a radio interview yesterday in which the obviously liberal interviewer and a nominally Catholic professor were commiserating that Ratzinger was "divisive," their theory being that the new Pope needed to unite the Church by getting right (i.e. going left) on gender and sexuality issues. Imbeciles.
The french socialist newspapers are not very glad by the new Pope. Instead of us, french patriots and catholic, we are very very glad.
Benoit XVI stands against Turkey EU membership, like us. We are against the European Constitution because Chirac said that it was necessary to cut out in the next constitution the christian roots of Europe. French people must say "no" to the referendum the may 29th.
If French socialists like a Pope, there must be something wrong with him.:-)
I'm hoping for a good 15 years. Hehehehehe...
Fr. Reese seems to be a liberal. He's been all over cable for the last 2 weeks "pontificating", and its pretty obvious what his agenda is.
Every Pope is interim! God determines the term of office!
Exactly so, to all, Marie
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