Posted on 07/06/2021 12:58:09 PM PDT by Marchmain
The Vatican has detailed laws, rituals and roles to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns. But none of them apply when he is sick or even unconscious, and there are no specific norms governing what happens when a pope becomes incapacitated.
As a result, even though Pope Francis remains hospitalized while he recovers from intestinal surgery Sunday at a Rome hospital, he is still pope and very much in charge. The Vatican said Tuesday Francis had eaten breakfast, read the newspapers and had a walk, and that his post-operative recovery was proceeding normally.
Here's how it works:
THE ROLE OF THE POPE
The pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter, the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and the pastor of the universal Catholic Church on Earth, according to the church’s in-house canon law.
Nothing has changed in his status, role or power since he was elected the 266th pope on March 13, 2013, even while he underwent three hours of surgery Sunday to remove half of his colon.
That status is by theological design.
“The pope’s authority is supreme, full and universal,” said canon lawyer Nicholas Cafardi. “So if his authority is at that level, who gets to decide that he can no longer exercise that authority? There’s nobody above him.”
THE VATICAN CURIA
Francis may be in charge, but he already delegates the day-to-day running of the Vatican and church to a team of officials who operate whether he is in the Apostolic Palace or not, and whether he is conscious or not.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
The Vice-Pope.
Probably the same person who is running this nation.
Hope the vice pope isn’t as useless as our vp.
Satan?................
“The Vice-Pope.”
Yup, someone has to take control of the nuclear codes.
Likely one of:
- George Soros
- President Xi
- Valerie Jarret
- Barry Soetoro
Benedict?
Exactly. China’s puppet emperor Joe Xiden has his own Marxist cabal. Undoubtedly, so does Pope Frank.
I different Peronist, I imagine.
His Wife ,LOL
Until the advent of the nuclear age, the U.S. didn’t feel the need to have “someone in charge” every time a President was given anesthesia or had suffered a medical emergency. Nothing very bad could happen to the U.S. in a matter of days that would require immediate Presidential decisions.
By the 60s it was obvious that times and things had changed and thus the 25th Amendment.
If the Pope is down for a while, it’s not like something major is going to happen to the Church, so my guess, things will pretty much run themselves no matter how long he’s hospitalized.
Satan. Nothing will change.
His wife. Carmelita Pope.
A random, teen-age altar boy would do a far better job than this commie pope.
Carmelita Elena Jill Pope.
Evita Poperon.
Well alright …..you win the Internet today
Joe Biden, who else?
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