Reports of an improvement in Pope Francis's condition tonight from the Vatican. They say that the Pope has been doing better. He has been able to call the parish in Gaza and also to do some work activities. We're told that the potential kidney failure that the Pope might have had is now no longer *** concern. He's still receiving oxygen, but at *** slightly lower rate. Clearly it's *** complex medical picture for Francis, and we are told he is still in *** critical condition. It could go either way. Francis has been in hospital since February 14th. It's the longest hospital stay of his pontificate, and there is obviously concern here in Rome and at the Vatican behind me in St. Peter's Square. There was *** prayer service this evening led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Other cardinals from Rome were gathered in the square to pray for Pope Francis. There's been an outpouring of prayer and well wishes. For the pontiff as he struggles with this health condition, this health crisis, he has pneumonia in both lungs. We're hearing of prayers being said for the Pope across the globe and by non-Catholics. The Grand Imam of Al Hazara, the leader of Sunni Islam in Egypt, has been praying for the Pope. We are expecting further updates from the Vatican in the coming hours, Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.
What happens if Pope Francis resigns or becomes incapacitated?
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Updated: 11:49 AM EST Feb 25, 2025
Despite Pope Francis remaining hospitalized in Rome, the pontiff is still very much in charge of the Catholic Church. Still, Francis' hospital stay is raising obvious questions about what happens if he loses consciousness for a prolonged period or whether he might follow in Pope Benedict XVI's footsteps and resign if he becomes unable to lead. On Tuesday, Francis' hospital stay hit the 11-day mark, eclipsing the length of his 2021 hospital stay for surgery to remove 13 inches of his colon.What happens if Francis' health does not improve?Francis confirmed in 2022 that shortly after he was elected pope, he wrote a letter of resignation to be invoked if he became medically incapacitated. He said he gave it to the then-secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and assumed Bertone had delivered it to Parolin's office when he retired.The text is not public, and the conditions Francis contemplated for a resignation are unknown. It is also not known if such a letter would be canonically valid. Canon law requires a papal resignation to be "freely and properly manifested" 바카라 게임 웹사이트 as was the case when Benedict announced his resignation in 2013.In 1965, Pope Paul VI wrote letters to the dean of the College of Cardinals, hypothesizing that if he were to become seriously ill, the dean and other cardinals should accept his resignation. The letter was never invoked since Paul lived another 13 years and died on the job.The only time papal power changes hands is when a pope dies or resigns. At that time, a whole series of rites and rituals comes into play governing the "interregnum" 바카라 게임 웹사이트 the period between the end of one pontificate and the election of a new pope.During that period, known as the "sede vacante," or "empty See," the camerlengo, or chamberlain, runs the administration and finances of the Holy See. He certifies the pope바카라 게임 웹사이트s death, seals the papal apartments and prepares for the pope바카라 게임 웹사이트s burial before a conclave to elect a new pope. The position is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the head of the Vatican's laity office.The camerlengo has no role or duties if the pope is merely sick or otherwise incapacitated.Likewise, the dean of the College of Cardinals, who would preside at a papal funeral and organize the conclave, has no additional role if the pope is merely sick. That position is currently held by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91.Earlier this month, Francis decided to keep Re on the job even after his five-year term expired rather than make way for someone new. He also extended the term of the vice-dean, Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81.
Despite Pope Francis remaining hospitalized in Rome, the pontiff is still very much in charge of the Catholic Church.
Still, Francis' hospital stay is raising obvious questions about what happens if he loses consciousness for a prolonged period or whether he might follow in Pope Benedict XVI's footsteps and resign if he becomes unable to lead. On Tuesday, Francis' hospital stay hit the 11-day mark, eclipsing the length of his 2021 hospital stay for surgery to remove 13 inches of his colon.
What happens if Francis' health does not improve?
Francis confirmed in 2022 that shortly after he was elected pope, he wrote a letter of resignation to be invoked if he became medically incapacitated. He said he gave it to the then-secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and assumed Bertone had delivered it to Parolin's office when he retired.
The text is not public, and the conditions Francis contemplated for a resignation are unknown. It is also not known if such a letter would be canonically valid. Canon law requires a papal resignation to be "freely and properly manifested" 바카라 게임 웹사이트 as was the case when Benedict announced his resignation in 2013.
In 1965, Pope Paul VI wrote letters to the dean of the College of Cardinals, hypothesizing that if he were to become seriously ill, the dean and other cardinals should accept his resignation. The letter was never invoked since Paul lived another 13 years and died on the job.
The only time papal power changes hands is when a pope dies or resigns. At that time, a whole series of rites and rituals comes into play governing the "interregnum" 바카라 게임 웹사이트 the period between the end of one pontificate and the election of a new pope.
During that period, known as the "sede vacante," or "empty See," the camerlengo, or chamberlain, runs the administration and finances of the Holy See. He certifies the pope바카라 게임 웹사이트s death, seals the papal apartments and prepares for the pope바카라 게임 웹사이트s burial before a conclave to elect a new pope. The position is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the head of the Vatican's laity office.
The camerlengo has no role or duties if the pope is merely sick or otherwise incapacitated.
Likewise, the dean of the College of Cardinals, who would preside at a papal funeral and organize the conclave, has no additional role if the pope is merely sick. That position is currently held by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91.
Earlier this month, Francis decided to keep Re on the job even after his five-year term expired rather than make way for someone new. He also extended the term of the vice-dean, Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81.
