WHY IS THE POPE STILL A POPE WHEN HE IS OLD AND SICK?

WHO IS GONNA BE THE NEXT POPE?

-- PUNKER (GREG_PISAHOV@HOTMAIL.COM), January 09, 2005

Answers

As to why, tis beue its a lfietme post, and he doesnt feel liek retiring.

as tot he next, we have to ait until the Pope dies...or retires.

-- Zarove (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), January 09, 2005.

the pope can retire, but in my memory this has never occured. God chooses when the time is right for a new pope, not mankind. the thing about this pope is that while he is old and sick he still has a great mind working hard on several issues that he views as key in making a change to our current culture of death.

the next pope is a good question, and will be chosen by a counsel of bishops (cardinals and archbishops) after the death of the current pope. while the pope can be chosen as any catholic who is in good standing with God, they generally are chosen from experienced cardinals who know how to run large areas of the catholic church. currently i think Cardinal Ratzinger would be a good choice for the next pope.

-- paul h (dontSendMeMail@notAnAddress.com), January 09, 2005.