Pope Benedict's resignation and the mystery of the missing encyclical

cns ^ | February 15, 2013 | Francis X. Rocca

[Mrs. Don-o]

No, when he steps down on Feb 28 at 8:00 p.m. Rome time, the Church will have no pope. Temporary authority will pass into the hands of the camerlengo (chamberlain: the highest-ranking cardinal) and the College of Cardinals. The period during which the papal office is vacant is known as the sede vacante ("vacant seat").

[fatima]

Thanks.

[murron]

Yes, he can, if he’s in the beginning stages. Besides, of course my speculation is without evidence. That’s why it’s called speculation.

[michigancatholic]

You underestimate what he has been all of his life. He is capable of delivering highly technical and precisely scholarly presentations with no notes, completely off the cuff. He is absolutely brilliant and always has been.

A degradation of what he has been is still more than almost anyone now living can deliver at the peak of their powers.

[michigancatholic]

Yes, he can. But he may have an inkling what’s coming and be preparing for it.

Alzheimers isn’t the only possibility either. Some are guessing that maybe it’s congestive heart failure that’s the problem. I remind everyone that diagnosis at a distance by amateurs is a fool’s errand. None of us really know what his medical status is, and can only see some symptoms—weight loss, etc.

[annalex]

Neither of us knows, but while I see stark evidence of old age: weight loss, blind in one eye, etc., I don’t see any signs of mental decline.

As far as remote diagnosis, I always noticed the dark shadows around his eyes, even years ago. I thought that was a sign of heart disease. I am not a doctor.

[murron]

Well, we won’t see any symptoms now. He’ll be out of sight. And I don’t know about anyone else, I’m not diagnosing. I’m just hazarding a guess what would have made him take such a drastic and historic step and leave us popeless.