What happens to the leadership of the Catholic Church when the Pope becomes ill or incompetent?

Vatican City – Although the Vatican has detailed laws and rituals to ensure the transfer of power when the Pope dies or submits, do not apply if ill or even unconscious. And there are no special norms that are exposed to what is happening with the leadership of the Catholic Church if the Pope becomes completely incompetent.

As a result, although Pope Francis remains hospitalized in critical condition With a complex lung infection, it is still a pope and strongly in charge. Vatican said Sunday da Francis rested during the calm night After having an extended respiratory crisis a day before, they are looking for high oxygen flows to help him breathe.

Nevertheless, Francis Hospital Residence asks obvious questions about whether he could follow the Pope Benedict XVI’s steps and resigned if he can’t lead. Monday, Francis’ hospital stay will hit a 10-day brand, equating the length of his 2021 Hospital stay For the operation for removing 33 inches (13 inches) of its colon.

His year and extended disease revived interest in how the Papal Power is seen in the world, as it is transmitted and under what circumstances. Here’s how it works:

Pope is the heir of the Apostle Peter, the head of the Faculty of Bishop, Vikar Christ and the pastor of the Universal Catholic Church on Earth, according to the Crquette Canon Law.

Nothing has changed in their status, role or power since Francis was elected 266. Pope 13. March 2013. Years. That status is theological design.

Francis can be in charge, but he is already delegating a daily run of the Vatican and the Church in the team of employees who operate whether they are in the apostolic palace or not, and whether he is aware of or not.

The chief between them is the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. As a sign of Francisco hospitalization, a change in the management of the Church, Parolin was in Burkina Faso, when Francis entered the hospital on 14. February. Parolin is now on the Vatican.

Other Vatican functions usually behave including Vatican’s 2025 Holly celebrations.

On Sunday, for example, Archbishop of Rino Fisichella celebrated the jubilee mass in the Basilica of St. Peter that Francis should celebrate. Fisichella offered a special prayer for Francis from the altar before delivered Homidly, Pope prepared.

Canon Law has provisions for when the bishop will ill get sick and cannot be initiated by their diocese, but none for the Pope. Canon 412 says the diocese can be declared “disrupted” if its power – due to “detention, expulsion, exile or incompetence” – cannot meet its pastoral functions. In such cases, daily running diocuspi of displacements in the auxiliary bishop, general Vikar or someone else.

Although Francis Bishop Rome, there is no explicit provision for the Pope if it seems like “interferes”. Canon 335 declares simply that when sacred is seen “empty or completely distracted”, nothing can be changed in the church management. But don’t say what the holy will see “completely interferes” or which provisions could come into play if ever there would ever be.

2021. Tim Lawyer Canon started proposing norms to meet that legislative gap. They created canonous Initiative for the source of the crowd In order to craft a new church law regulating the Office of Retired Papes, as well as norms for application when the Pope cannot manage, either temporarily or permanently.

The proposed norms explain that, with medical progress, it is completely likely that at some point of the Pope will be alive, but cannot be managed. He claims that the Church must ensure the declaration of “completely distracted sees” and the transmission of the authorities for their own unity.

According to the proposed norms, the management of the universal church would forward the Faculty of Cardinal. In the case of temporary obstacles, they would appoint a management commission, with periodic medical checks every six months to determine the status of the Pope.

Francis confirmed in 2022. that soon after the Pope was elected, he wrote a resignation letter, which will be invited if he became medically incapable. He said he gave him to the then secretary, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and said he had assumed that Bertona had submitted to Parolin’s office when he retreated.

The text is not public, and the terms of Francis are imagined for resignation are unknown. It is also not known whether such a letter would be canonically valid. The Canon Law requires Papup resignations to “freely and properly manifest” – as was the case when Benedict announced resignation in 2013. Years.

In 1965. Pope Paul wrote to Dean College for cardinals hypothesize that if he became seriously ill, the dean and other cardinals should accept his resignation. The letter was never called, because Paul lived for another 13 years and died at work.

The only time of the papke changes the hands is when the Pope dies or resigned. At that time, a number of rites and rituals come into a game that regulates the “interregnum” – the period between the end of one pontificate and the new Pope’s elections.

During that period, known as “sede vacant” or “empty vid”, Camelengo or Chamberlain, leads the administration and finance of St. Viet. Confirms the Pope Death, seal the Pope’s apartments and is prepared for the Pope of the funeral before the conclusions are choosing a new Pope. The position currently holds Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Chief of the Vatican’s lying office.

Camelengo has no role or duty if the pope is only ill or otherwise disabled.

Also, Dean from the Faculty of Cardinalwho would chair on a papual funeral and organized a conclave, there is no further role if the pope is only ill. This position currently holds Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91.

Earlier this month, Francis decided to keep the job even after the end of the five-year deadline, not to make a way for someone new. He also extended the mandate of the Prodecan, Argentine Cardinal Leonard Sandri, 81.

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