Pope Francis, 85, may be talking about his ill health and possible resignation to prepare the public to his stepping down in 2025, an expert has said
“It’s obvious he’s got to cut things back and the wheelchair is going to be a permanent fixture. With his age and weight, it’s going to be difficult for him to gain mobility.“We don’t even know the impact of the surgery on his colon last summer and he could have something else wrong that we don’t know about.”
Religious commentators also believe that Pope Francis’ decision to retire could set a “new norm”, making him the third Pope to do so in history., was the first pope to resign in more than 600 years when he stepped down in 2013 citing poor health. Deacon and political commentator Calvin Robinson said: “It used to be that the Chair of St Peter meant service for life. The bishop of Rome, once elected, would occupy the role of obligation until such time as the Lord ended their tenure.
“It is a very contemporary idea to see this vocation as a job like any other, that one resigns from by choice. However, the precedent has been set. Benedict XVI was only the second Pope to retire, and if Francis was to do the same it might set a new norm.”
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