Pope Francis says papacy might be just 4-5 yrs

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I admire and respect JP II for how he “stuck it out” after becoming so ill and aged. It was a heroic gesture and display of his love and commitment to God and the Church. I believe God recognized and accepted it as such.

But I also completely respect the decision of others such as Benedict to step back when age and weakness undermine them. I think God is fine with that too. I suspect I would be in this category (not that I am, mind you, just trying to empathize here). I think it is ok for an aged, ill or weakened Pope to want to see stronger, surer guidance than he can provide. It’s an act of humility which requires great courage.

Either way - we all walk the path we are given; so do the Popes.
 
SonOfMan said:
Here’s my speculation on what the Pope has said…

I believe Pope Francis is about to make some very drastic changes in the Church. This is going to upset a lot of tradiotionalists and he knows this. He is bracing himself for the backlash by “fanatics”, as he said, who will be outraged by these changes and he fears they will even assassinate him for it.
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I doubt he will change anything in regard to the dogma and catechism. Now he may change some traditions that do not follow either of those. What seems to anger people most is to find out he is not a left leaning liberal.
 
Nongpogi said:
I believe that Pope Francis’ idea of quitting the papacy in 4-5 yrs is very demoralizing to Catholics. To me it shows his lack of faith in God. God is the one who chose him to be pope and as a faithful servant of the Lord, should finish his papacy till he dies. Otherwise,
he is showing a bad example to people of the world, and not only to Catholics.
There are people who have problems , sickness etc., and is advised to hang in there, and to pray to have the grace to bear the suffering. Then our Pope quits because he is tired and cannot handle it physically. He should actually pray that God will give him the grace to lead
His church till the end of his life.
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Are you too willing to work in your profession up until the day you die?
 
I just read the article…he was joking with reporters.

Quote : "The 77-year-old pontiff jokingly gave himself just “two or three years” before he’s called to meet his maker — highlighting the fact that the praises of man are fleeting.

“I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time. Two or three years and then I’ll be off to the Father’s house," Francis told reporters on Monday during a flight back from South Korea."
 
truetofaith said:
I just read the article…he was joking with reporters.

Quote : "The 77-year-old pontiff jokingly gave himself just “two or three years” before he’s called to meet his maker — highlighting the fact that the praises of man are fleeting.

“I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time. Two or three years and then I’ll be off to the Father’s house," Francis told reporters on Monday during a flight back from South Korea."
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Yep, it seems like even if you want to take him strictly to his word and ignore any suggestions of humor or simply using common expressions he was expressing a prediction of death, not retirement.
 
Deus_tecum said:
I doubt he will change anything in regard to the dogma and catechism. Now he may change some traditions that do not follow either of those. What seems to anger people most is to find out he is not a left leaning liberal.
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Even so I doubt that left leaning liberals are really expecting much out of a Catholic Pope
 
Isn’t it a blessing that it’s ‘ALL’ in God, the Father Almighty’s hands. Some will be saddened, as it’s human nature. Some will be indifferent. But we ‘all’ will be blessed. Perhaps his ‘feeling’ is The Holy Spirit.
 
I strongly disagree with the OP. This is not showing his lack of faith. I believe he has a lot of faith.
 
I hope he doesn’t quit the Papacy, what if he quits before the Pope Emeritus dies, will we have an assistant Pope Emeritus?

I wonder whether he feels ill sometimes and is alluding to that unless he believes he is in the third secret of Fatima and Satan is ready for the final fight.

We just don’t know.
 
I believe this will happen more frequently as people live longer. Look at St. John Paul II’s last years, as good as he was, if he had retired and let a stronger, younger man take over, maybe a lot of the damage that was done to the church internally could have been prevented or at least lessoned. We’ll never know for sure, but it certainly seems that way to me.
 
Bataar said:
I believe this will happen more frequently as people live longer. Look at St. John Paul II’s last years, as good as he was, if he had retired and let a stronger, younger man take over, maybe a lot of the damage that was done to the church internally could have been prevented or at least lessoned. We’ll never know for sure, but it certainly seems that way to me.
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You’re right, we can never know for sure. But same goes for those octogenarians who make the major financial and other decisions in their countries, companies, investment firms, etc. There’s a list of those.

That said, the last thing people like to hear are the words, “This job is tougher than I thought.” Let’s hope the Pope isn’t implying this.
 
Bataar said:
I believe this will happen more frequently as people live longer. Look at St. John Paul II’s last years, as good as he was, if he had retired and let a stronger, younger man take over, maybe a lot of the damage that was done to the church internally could have been prevented or at least lessoned. We’ll never know for sure, but it certainly seems that way to me.
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What happened to the gates of hell not prevailing and all of that? If one believes that the gates of hell will not prevail (whatever that specifically entails), then it doesn’t really matter who’s running the Church.
 
pnewton:
Are you too willing to work in your profession up until the day you die?
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I think it is important and significant to remember that the Papacy (and all other clerical positions) are a vocation and not merely a profession or job.

We are obligated to pray for our Pope (the Vicar of Christ), and that God’s will be done. May Pope Francis be protected and live out his vocation and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Anticipating a happy Palm Sunday,
Mimi
 
ProVobis said:
You’re right, we can never know for sure. But same goes for those octogenarians who make the major financial and other decisions in their countries, companies, investment firms, etc. There’s a list of those.

That said, the last thing people like to hear are the words, “This job is tougher than I thought.” Let’s hope the Pope isn’t implying this.
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Pope Francis is tough! He doesn’t live in any kind of luxury, but goes for simple living even though he’s the head of the church. I’m sure he’s referring to his age and the fact that he’s missing part of a lung.
I’m sure he wouldn’t do anything regarding his position in the church without a lot of prayer, so if he does retire it will be God’s will.
 
Ridgerunner said:
He might know something we don’t.
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He knows a lot of things we don’t know. For example, if he had a good night sleep last night. Concerning the future, he faces uncertainties, worries and fears like all of us.
 
Mimi said:
I think it is important and significant to remember that the Papacy (and all other clerical positions) are a vocation and not merely a profession or job.
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That is precisely why no one who is not in that position is fit to judge.
 
Mimi said:
pnewton:

I think it is important and significant to remember that the Papacy (and all other clerical positions) are a vocation and not merely a profession or job.

Mimi
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A priest or a nun can spend months or years in bed before dying. We expect the pope to be an active leader of the Church.
 
Pope St John XVIII was Pope for only 6 years, and look at everything he accomplished.

It’s not the duration of the Papacy that matters, but what the Supreme Pontiff accomplishes during his pontificate that matters.
 
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