Pope John Paul II: Decision To Stay On "An Act Of Faith"

The Pope has chosen to live out his sickness in public. Desmond O'Grady says the Pontiff hopes it will show why suffering must be endured.

John Paul II's precarious health is more a problem for Jesus Christ than for the Pope. He has let it be known that he does not intend to resign despite a worsening Parkinson-like condition.

The message is probably intended to quash increasing speculation, even by cardinals, that the Pope, 82, will step down. In recent months Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican doctrinal watchdog, has said: "If the Pope cannot function he would certainly resign". Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, of Honduras, observed: "He could reach a point when he has to resign for the good of the church." The Belgian Cardinal Godfried Daneels said the church had to face the issue of old and sick popes.

Some claim the Pope is a greater witness as a shuffling, bent, dribbling figure with slurred speech and trembling hand than as an athletic "Maradona of the Faith", as some Latin-Americans called him at the beginning of his pontificate.

John Paul is imprisoned by his body, but is not embarrassed by it. He has chosen to live out his sickness in public, to show that faith can be deepened despite the approach of death. He breathes life into the lesson that while all must endure suffering only certain attitudes give it meaning. In an age which tends to ignore suffering and death as it does God, it can be a powerful witness. It is a submission to God's will, but also a challenge to God to use him to persuade people to believe.

It is the culmination of the increased public presence of popes over the past 40 years. The decision to "open windows" during the Second Vatican Council had a part in this. The windows were opened and popes flew out. John Paul's trips have been the cutting edge of his missionary pontificate. The development of television, exploited cleverly by John Paul II, has been another element imposing papal presence. But if there is greater papal presence, popes also have no place to hide if they are sick.

People are now used to seeing them each Sunday speaking from their study window and on most Wednesdays at audiences.

Once popes were never sick until they were dead. John Paul apparently will have his death documented in its slow progress. "I don't need my hands or my feet to guide the church," he reputedly says. "My mind and spirit are enough." He is still lucid, capable of imaginative initiatives and has a strenuous program of trips, the next beginning in Toronto on July 23 for World Youth Day. He will go on to Mexico and Guatemala for canonisations and return to Rome next month.

Recently a visiting bishop supposedly told the Pope that a certain cardinal was spoken of as his possible successor. John Paul allegedly responded: "I have not yet nominated the cardinal who will be my successor."

He can appoint cardinals at any moment but the next batch, which will change the prospects for his succession, is expected next year. As his heart and other organs are reportedly healthy, he could live well beyond that.

Some consider that if he stepped down in his present state there would be concern about possible statements from him as a former pope, embarrassing for a successor. But what are the longer-term prospects when he suffers from a condition whose cure is sometimes worse than the malady? His health has highs and lows but his movements are increasingly limited and his speech often so slurred that some bishops after audiences with him have confessed they barely understood a word. If his malady renders him mute and immobile, he might, despite the Vatican's present line, reconsider his decision not to resign.

Church law envisages a pope stepping down; he has made a choice which some fear may damage the church because people will increasingly ignore the Vatican, believing that he is a mere figurehead.

His choice would have seemed less dramatic if he had not introduced a law obliging all bishops to tender their resignation at the age of 75. Cardinals over 80, following a ruling by Pope Paul VI, are excluded from papal elections. That ruling seems flatly out of keeping with increasing life spans and the fact that John Paul II is two years over the age limit to vote.

Of course, some over-80 cardinals are ga-ga, but more have savvy, and many of the 42 currently sidelined are disgruntled because of it. In John Paul's logic, God is not ready to take him yet, but apparently the Vatican does not know why the over-80 cardinals are still hanging around.

Convinced Jesus Christ called him to his Petrine office, John Paul wants Him to show what part Parkinson's has in it.

God Bless him. He may end up living to be a 100. Perhaps Bishop Bruskewitz will be elevated to Cardinal. Talk about a shot across the bow.

Interesting comment.

Overall, the article was derogatory on the Holy Father, but interesting. Is this a secular newspaper or a Catholic newspaper?

John Paul II is two years over the age limit to vote [for his successor].

Huhn???

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