Vatican Discloses That Benedict Has Heart pacemaker

New York Times ^ | February 12, 2013 | ELISABETTA POVOLEDO

[Alex Murphy]

ROME — A day after Pope Benedict XVI stunned Roman Catholics by announcing that he would resign at the end of the month, the Vatican disclosed new details about his physical well-being on Tuesday, saying he had been fitted with a heart pacemaker a decade ago but that had not influenced his decision to become the first pope in almost 600 years to step down.

The disclosure about the device, whose existence was not widely known, came as the Vatican grappled with a series of logistical questions raised by a decision that gave Benedict just 17 days to wind up his almost eight-year papacy.

At a news conference, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman said the pacemaker was installed some years ago, while the pope was still a cardinal before his election in 2005. The batteries were replaced three months ago in a routine prodecure that had not influenced the pope’s thinking about resigning, Father Lombardi said.

The intervention was “just a routine change of batteries, not an important operation.”

“This did not weigh on his decision, it is more about his forces diminishing.”

When he announced his resignation on Monday, the pope cited advancing years and weakness, saying his strength “has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”

Greg Burke, the Vatican’s senior communications adviser, said the pacemaker was fitted roughly 10 years ago — a period when Benedict, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was the head of the Vatican’s main doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

“You don’t resign because you have a pacemaker or because you have a new battery for a pacemaker,” Mr. Burke said.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Rummy my friend:

Thank you most especially for this Catholic Herald-U.K. link:

VatiLeaks conspiracy against the Pope's most trusted advisor (Bertone)

Very enlightening. It seems our good German Shepherd is surrounded by wolves. Keep your eye on that man Angelo Sodano, who always seems to show a glint of lupine teeth behind his calculated smile.

[Biggirl]

You forget that this Pope is in his 80’s when one is in one’s 80’s, you are very much thankful to be ALIVE. It could very well be health issues plus the stress of all the struggles mentioned.

[Biggirl]

The stress of all these struggles took its toll.

[Biggirl]

My mother got one late last year.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I think that’s a bg part of it. But I also think that Benedict is not “retiring from the fight to take it easy,” but making the best possible moves to get a good successor, plus placing himself into “the artillery position” for even more strenuous combat: intense prayer.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Pacemakers keep getting better and better. They are now able to non-invasively fine tune them, as well as to communicate with them over a distance. That is, a device in the person’s bedroom, connected to a phone line, that periodically checks on their heart function, then silently phones the doctor’s office and provides them with an EKG.

[NoKoolAidforMe]

I like the way you think Mrs. D.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you. I was wrong about Benedict consulting with Cardinals before the conclave: he has just said he will not attempt to influence the electors in any way whatsoever. This is fine. The entire College of Cardinals (under 80, eligible to vote) was appointed by JPII and BXVI.

He will pray. Intense prayer is what he is seeking.

Let's join him. I am involved in one of those "40 Days for Life" vigils in front of the local abortion clinic. Spiritual weakling though I am, I find I can pray and fast when I'm on a sidewalk and can't do anything else.