Our new pontiff appears to be upholding the breathtaking pace of his predecessor. Pope Benedict XVI has been so tireless, in fact, that some in the press are stirring up concerns over his health. According to AP (via Yahoo! News):
Benedict's brother, the Rev. Georg Ratzinger, has been quoted in several German media outlets about his younger brother's health, including an interview April 24 with the German television station TDF in which he said Benedict had suffered two strokes.
...Given the pope's calendar, it appears such [health] concerns have been brushed aside. Still, Benedict told the cardinals soon after he accepted their decision that his would be a "short reign," several cardinals have said.
Read more: Benedict Presses Ahead With Busy Schedule
10 comments:
Maybe Benedict knows more than he's letting on vis-a-vis his health. When John Paul I was elected and said his name would be John Paul "the First," he was told he couldn't be "the First" without there being a "Second." The saintly man supposedly replied that there will be a John Paul II and much sooner than anyone thinks. The rest is history.
I like it when the pope gets "close" to the people by using open vehicles but wonder if he is putting himself in danger. I suspect that he is leaving his fate in God's hands.
Someone working in the Vatican said they are glad they have a Pope again who is running up the stairs.
Bless him, he'll be Pope as long as God wants him to be, and not one minute more, not one minute less. I'm sure the chorus of doomsayers are really wishful thinkers if you scratch the surface too hard.
At least there is a silver lining to all the health chatter. It makes it much harder for the MSM and critics to openly attack PBXVI.
He looks like a favorite grandfather with that shy smile and elderly appearance. Those that shamelessly attack him in order to promote their own selfish agenda can easily be shown for what they are, and are thus somewhat defanged...
Hemorrhagic strokes are the bad kind. OTOH, their recurrence rate is no higher than with the milder kind (clot strokes).
He should just keep taking his meds, with JPI apparently did not do.
"Still, Benedict told the cardinals soon after he accepted their decision that his would be a "short reign," several cardinals have said."
After John Paul II's reign, "short reign" could mean six months or six years.
Every day I get more disgusted by the MSM. They *wish* the Holy Father would be ill. How despicable. What lowly characters infest the media. Uggg.
Pope Benedict is doing a tremendous job and he seems to be thriving on the challenge. He looks very happy and healthy and quite a few years younger than his 78 years. He is doing the right thing in being visible and close to the people. Any future Pope will have to do the same. John Paul II changed the nature of the Papacy and people now expect much closer contact with the Pontiff. Benedict has proved himself an able successor. He has a lovely smile, a wonderful aura of holiness and that glorious, distinctive hair looks like a halo. Let’s pray that he has quite a few good and healthy years ahead of him. We should support him and show that we appreciate and love him. Even when he was suffering, John Paul was energised by the support of the people. Let us give Benedict that same gift.
Bah. When Pope Leo XIII was elected, the Cardinals chose him precisely because he was sickly and elderly already.
He outlived almost all his Electors.
Only God knows how much time Benedict XVI has on this earth, but I know one thing -- it's not quantity but quality that counts.
P.S.: To the Vatican insider poster, any more gossip of that harmless nature? I loved hearing that. :)
Cheers,
V.
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