RE: the Pope's failing health.

I'm not Catholic and don't wish to offend any Catholics here but - why is the Pope always this old and half dead bloke who can't walk?

Wouldn't it be better to have someone like Tony Robbins [middle age/young, successful, energetic, full of charisma etc] ??

Just curious. :confused:

http://www.vaticanbankclaims.com/links.html



Wouldn't you be feeling a bit low wth all that to contend with? :uhh:

wow, I knew the catholics were known for a bit fo corruption, but I have no idea they'd been that busy.

As for the question at the top of the thread, I think you'll just find that it's the way it is. To be Pope you have to be a Cardinal. To be a Cardinal, you have to be a Bishop first etc etc. The Church holds great merit on tradition so I don't think you'll see anyone jumping the queue anytime soon.

You almost feel sorry for the current Pope though. As they don't retire he has the job till he dies. No-one managed to kill him (Papal history is littered with assassinations and poisonings), so he keep trotting on, even though his health has been shabby for the better part of a decade or so.

Hopefully the next one will be a little more liberal.

Greg Moore

Originally posted by akashik
[B]wow, I knew the catholics were known for a bit fo corruption, but I have no idea they'd been that busy.


Any organization as large as that with as large a geographical "market" is bound to run into a few snags or 2. :)

Just a comment on the original question...

20 years ago, Pope John Paul II wasn't that old... People do age... Its not like he has amazing powers to stop aging... and the term is for life, so... I don't understand the question...

- James

Originally posted by zRedDice
20 years ago, Pope John Paul II wasn't that old... People do age... Its not like he has amazing powers to stop aging...


Exactly...and I hope I'm still alive and kicking when I'm that age. Certainly, he's been through some tramatic times (assasination attempt, Parkinson's, etc.) and should serve as a model for future Pope's as far as his visit's all over the globe.
I remember when he was in Newark, NJ about 8 or 10 years ago and the feeling of seeing him in Sacred Heart Cathedral (even though it was only on TV) was something I'll never forget.

Originally posted by zRedDice
... I don't understand the question...

- James
It's just that the current pope can barely speak. From where I see things, the popes always seem so old and fragile. Why not have a young, strong and charasmatic leader that can actually walk etc. He doesn't seem capable of performing whatever it is he has to do. This is just my opinion. I don't wish to offend any catholics or anything. I was just curious after seeing a news story of how sick the pope was.

I think its sad to see a man so sick and what I find funny is how the catholic church says the pope says this and says that but if you look at his health he can barely say applesauce. :(

Originally posted by Aussie Bob

It's just that the current pope can barely speak. From where I see things, the popes always seem so old and fragile. Why not have a young, strong and charasmatic leader that can actually walk etc. He doesn't seem capable of performing whatever it is he has to do. This is just my opinion. I don't wish to offend any catholics or anything. I was just curious after seeing a news story of how sick the pope was.

No offense taken here... but... it is a life commitment, and he was elected, and he has done an awesome job... but he's been doing it for 20+ years...

That takes effort.

- James

Originally posted by Aussie Bob
From where I see things, the popes always seem so old and fragile.

And how many popes have you known? When he was elected, JPII was the youngest and physically strongest Pope of last 100 years.

A list of Popes: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm

Originally posted by alchiba
And how many popes have you known? When he was elected, JPII was the youngest and physically strongest Pope of last 100 years.
I did state that -
...don't wish to offend any Catholics...
...From where I see things...
...This is just my opinion...
So I'm not speaking from a factual background here, just my personal observation and opinions etc.

It's just that shouldn't there be some kind of minimum health requirement for the pope to continue to fulfill his duties. Much like the yearly checkup from the doctor for the USA President etc.. I mean, this person is the head of the Catholic organisation and can't even walk. I'm not Catholic, so forgive me if I'm treading on toes by appearing insensitive to your faith.
Originally posted by alchiba
A list of Popes: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
Thanks. :)

No offense taken, Aussie Bob. :)

There have been popes elected when they were in their 30's, and maybe even in their 20's. There have also been promiscuous popes, sickly popes, insane popes and even popes (so my stalwart Irish Catholic friends insist) who have gone to hell.

There's so much secrecy surrounding the office it may not be known if there is a health requirement or not. My guess is the Vatican would prop up a corpse until a successor is elected, which they pretty much did when JPII got the job.

Originally posted by phpjames
but if you look at his health he can barely say applesauce. :( Right, or "on behalf of the catholic church, I apologize"....

-Bob

you have to wonder in his state exactly how many decisions he makes and how many he is 'advised' on. poor old bugger, he looks like he needs a warm beach somewhere and no one bothering him. he can barely manage to utter a few words. i can imagine if i were him my words would be **** off and let me sleep :)