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Why are there speculations about the state of health of Pope Francis?

2022-07-08 18:27:52Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA CHRISTOPH STRACK
Why are there speculations about the state of health of Pope Francis?
Why are there speculations about the state of health of Pope Francis?

A year ago, Pope Francis underwent bowel surgery. For months, his daily life has been characterized by knee pain. Will his resignation from the pontificate be announced at the end of the summer?

The Bishop of Augsburg had his voice heard recently. On Friday (01.07) Bertram Meier visited Pope Francis in the Vatican. At the end of the visit, he told the Catholic News Agency (KNA) that he did not see that the 85-year-old was tired in his duties. "He was in good physical and mental condition, had a lot of humor and wasn't tired at all." The Pope did not use a wheelchair, but only a cane.

But it is one thing when an employee, in this case the Bishop, tells about the state of health of his superior. In this case, no detached thinking is expected. Let the Pope be one of the greatest clerics and moral authorities in the world, he is at the head of an absolutist system. But, his health condition has become a topic for some time. At least since a year ago, on July 4, 2021, Vatican reporters suddenly received the notification that Francis has been operated on in a clinic, under full anesthesia, in the intestine.

When he lost his good appetite

That summer day, the Pope prayed in the morning at the window of the Apostolic Palace in front of thousands of faithful who were in St. Peter's Square, as is the custom every Sunday. At the end he prayed to the people saying in Italian "Non dimenticate di pregare per me" / "Don't forget to pray for me". The common expression that Italians are used to "buon pranzo" / "Have a good lunch" was not said, which was unusual.

Hours later, a tweet by the director of the Vatican press room, Matteo Bruni, shocked correspondents gathered around the Vatican, commonly called "vaticanisti", and believers around the world. In it he briefly informed about the operation.

Bruni urged people to calm down, saying the operation had been "planned". Hours later came the news that the Pope had responded well to the treatment. The operation involved an infected site in the intestinal wall. However: Journalists updated obituaries prepared for the head of the church.

After 11 days, Francis returned to the Vatican. Nearly two months later he made it clear in his usual Plauder interview that the bowel surgery appears to have been more serious than first thought. "A nurse saved my life," the Pope, who is from Argentina, told a Spanish station.

One of the oldest popes in history

What about now, a year later? It has been two months since the world saw the images of the Pope in the wheelchair. On May 5, it premiered. The reasons mentioned are related to knee pain. The doctors have forbidden him to stand or walk for a long time, Frančesku explains. According to statistics, he is one of the ten oldest popes in the history of the church.

Since taking office, Frančesku has been known for his unconventional behavior. During major Vatican conferences, he was often seen walking to the meeting place, carrying an old briefcase. His gait worsened over the years. This is part of coming of age.

Why are there speculations about the state of health of Pope Francis?

But with the appearance of images with the wheelchair, people started talking about Francis' health condition. He actually wanted to travel to Lebanon in June, but due to his knees the plans were put on hold, the visit was officially postponed.

Visits to South Sudan and Congo were planned for this week. For years he wanted to make these trips, together with the leader of the Church of England. The visit was thought to be a visit to the poorest people of war zones in Africa. To those whom Francis is very fond of. Even after the wheelchair images emerged, the Vatican released the program of the visit, Congo and South Sudan were enthusiastically prepared.

Now the visit is carried out by number two of the Vatican

Almost three weeks ago, the decision was made that the Pope would not travel. The Vatican spokesman, Bruni, gave the doctor's urgent advice as the reason; "results of therapy" should not be influenced. Now instead of the Pope, the number two of the Vatican, the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is preparing for these two countries. And Francis celebrates a colorful mass in St. Peter's Basilica, together with Christians from the Congo.

Now in the hot summer of Rome, there is less talk about the Pope. In the month of July, as usual, there are no big expectations for believers. Francisku's public appearances have become rare. However, the meeting plan seems original. On Friday (01.07) he met not only with Bishop Meier, but also with entrepreneur Elon Musk, one of the richest people in the world. "Honorable, I met with the Pontifex yesterday," said the 51-year-old on Twitter. The picture on his Twitter showed Musk with a serious look next to the smiling Pope, with Musk's four children nearby.

Days ago, Francis did not attend a long-planned meeting with members of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations. Due to acute pain, it was reported. However, the text of his speech with the words "Dear older brothers and sisters, shalom!" was distributed. A meeting on the papal calendar, which was certainly more relevant than the meeting with Musk.

At the end of July, the Pope wants to go to Canada, the Vatican has not canceled this meeting. A transatlantic journey, with four ascents and four descents, meetings with indigenous people who have suffered in ecclesiastical institutions.

Appointment of new cardinals in Rome

In a few months, Francis will fill the post longer than his predecessor, Pope Benedict. For the month of August, he has important church meetings on his calendar.

On August 27, in an unusual meeting, he admits 20 new clerics to the so-called College of Cardinals; 16 new cardinals have not reached the age of 80, so in the case of a conclave of Francis' successor, they are allowed to vote. The festive reception of the cardinals has been held for years either at the end of December or at the end of February or at the beginning of March.

For March 29 and 30, Francis has called all the cardinals of the world church to the Vatican for consultations. It is known that we are dealing with church reform. The setting of this meeting is also unusual. As if he were as young as he was at the beginning of his pontificate, Francis has planned for August 28, the day when most of the world's cardinals are in Rome, a helicopter trip to L'Aquila in Abruzzo. There he will visit the tomb of Pope Coelestin, who resigned in 1294 – the first pope to do so before Pope Benedict XVI, who chose to do so in 2013.

Curia reform, pushed by Francis during his years in Rome, also stipulates that all Vatican clerics serve a maximum of ten years in office, two five-year terms. Christopher Lamb has been talking about this for weeks at the British "The Tablet". With such a rule, unusual multi-year novel biographies unrelated to the ecclesiastical base would come to an end.

Why are there speculations about the state of health of Pope Francis?

In 2023 Francis marks ten years in office

Ten years in office – Francis can celebrate this in March 2023. He would then be 86 years old. Although all officials firmly reject any hint of his resignation, speculation has long been rife as to whether Francis is physically fit. The announcement can be made at the end of August and the resignation could happen sometime in 2023. Then we would be dealing with a hot end of summer in Rome.

The Pope himself was confronted with these speculations. On Monday (04.07), in an interview with the Reuters agency, he rejected all speculations about his resignation. "I never thought of such a thing," he said. And added: "Not these moments, not these moments. Really.”

Francis has often spoken about his position, according to which he may resign one day and not remain in office for the rest of his life, if his health condition does not allow him to lead the Church. To the question, when this can happen, he said: "We don't know. God will tell us." The time may have come. Also time for new speculations. / DW

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