General Chat

My daughter's very happy :-D

Apparently, thanks to a cheeky bet when they were courting, the Pope's resignation means her husband now owes her a trip to Italy :-D :-D

There has to be a rap competition Ann....and also a hand wrestling contest :-D

a selection like they did for Dorothy - Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Graham Norton - now I'm liking that - black/white smoke just doesn't do it for me

so what would the prospective candidates have to do?

I admire the Pope for his announcement. It would be sad to watch him deteriorate like Pope PaulJohn11.

Hayley, there are a couple of reasons why young men aren't usually chosen - they need to choose a man who has had quite a lot of experience in parochial and diocesan matters, and that can take years. Also, if someone is too young, they could be stuck with him for far too long...... :-D

Well, I think we have to admit that both priests and Archbishops will have more insight into what is going than the average layperson Supercrutch. .


I have, over many years and still do in fact, associate with priests of both the RC and the Anglican variety - one of our closest friends is an RC priest and he's brilliant and much loved by his parishioners.


My OH has Parkinson's and our vicar regularly calls in for a chat and to keep an eye on things to see if there is anything he can do to help.


Of course, there are some clergy who are complete twerps but, all in all, they're a good bunch.



Kay, I agree - I think it would have to be severe ill-health that would force the Queen into abdicating.

Maybe they should make the choosing of the new pope into an X Factor type programme........ :-D :-D

why dont they get a much younger Pope instead of employing them when are already 102 yrs old , they need young fresh blood someone abit hip :-D

Make sure we all read the tabloids because they are the only true source of infallibly correct information on this subject.

There is nothing wrong with growing old or enfeeble. We all do it.

Cynthia, I bow to the superior knowledge of all the priests and Archbishops having their twopennorth today.

So don't shoot the messenger :-P

PS I don't associate with priests :-D

He could well be Sue..but the cynicism from my point of view lies in the fact that they usually stay pope til they die..serious.illness not being an exception to this...of course it may well be just as they say it is.....who knows !!!

Have any of you thought he maybe on his last legs now,sort of One foot in the grave already..

The Queen is 86, ;-)

and belive only ill health would induce her to hand in the crown.

One man does not make a religion or institution so i cannot see the next Pope changing anything,

On that basis the statement by supercrutch is correct IMHO

Roy

Wow! That's a sweeping statement Supercrutch and by what authority can you possibly make it? How many priests have you actually met or know?

Well friends, I have had the news on all day (as usual) and I have two observations:

Priests have perfected the art of 'waffle dialogue' in order to avoid answering a straightforward question with anything that sounds remotely humanoid.

The next Pope will be against contraception, gays, women priests, married priests or anything else that might drag it into the last century let alone this one.

Good luck!

He is 85 years old, and I for one do not blame him for wanting to retire. I hope is left in peace to enjoy whatever it he is planning to do with the rest of his life.

met the Rector of my chuch [Church in Wales] while down the shop this pm - asked hm what he thought of the Pope resigning - he said he saw nothing sinister in it and as he is an academic and a highly educated man of the people, I'll take his word for it - I did ask him why they don't appoint younger men to the office of Pope and he said it was simple - they don't want younger men as they are in post for far too long - that's why they always appoint older men

Yes OH (who is a Catholic) pointed out it was John Paul who had Parkinsons. OH is no lover of the Catholic clergy generally, but he is quite sure that there is more to this than meets the eye & reminded me of the Papal secretary who copied Vatican documents a few months ago & wonders if there might be a connection.
Whatever the reason, lets hope they elect a younger man next time, who is fully able to fulfil the role for a couple of decades.

No Kay, if the Queen abdicates, she is no longer entitled to the title of Queen and would be given a new title.

She will be succeeded by Prince Charles who would then be crowned as King and would take on all the responsibilities previously held by his mother.

I doubt she will ever abdicate though.