This is really my debate point, if this situation were to occur, and given modern medicine, it’s a very real possibility now, what could the Church do? I’ve always thought that the RCC was a rather conservative organization (conservative in the sense of embracing tradition and changing very slowly). Would the College of Cardinals or and Ecumenical council move that quickly to replace the pontif should he become incapcitated in a coma or PVS? And then, the nasty question again, what happens if the miracle occurs and presto the pontif awakes and discovers he’s no longer Pope?
Even putting aside health problems, it’s easy to imagine an assassination attempt that doesn’t kill but inflicts significant brain damage. Had the 1981 shooter aimed a few feet higher, for example, JP2 could easily have been comatose/vegetative/significantly impaired quite early in his reign.
I can imagine a Church doctrine being created similar to the American 25th Amendment, section 4, allowing the College of Cardinals to temporarily appoint an Acting Pope. It wouldn’t surprise me, in fact, if it was rushed through before the next election. If it’s all done in a very formalized manner (perhaps with future Popes unofficially designating a like-minded “vice-Pope”), I don’t expect any major schisms.
This thread is now moot. RIP JPII.
Well we could always freeze him and make a Popesicle.
Given the recent situation in Florida and Terry Schiavo and how JP II lingered over the past few months, do you think the RCC might move quickly on this, after the new pope is installed?
Frankly, yes. I expect they’d move quietly though, since there’s no need to publicize the matter. A papal candidate who declares that he’ll guide the Church from his very deathbed if need be might have sounded bold and strong a generation ago, but is unlikely to inspire support these days. Before the next Pope is ordained, I’m sure it’ll be made clear to him that he’s expected to resign if stories about his health get more press than stories about his edicts.
I don’t expect the Schiavo case will have any lasting effect on on Church politics. The whole thing was ridiciulously overblown.
They would just claim that the Pope was still responding to people around him and still in control.
“Your Holiness, if you still think sex before marriage is bad, say ‘ahhhh wahhh’ now…”
Well, if he’s dead, they hit him on the head with a little silver hammer, to see if he wakes up.
So, they would hit him again, but a little bit harder.
And then, they would hit him again, but a little bit harder.
And the, they would hit him again, but realy hard.
And then, he would be dead.
