# Is the Pope's refusal to quit brave & selfless or simply egotistical at this point?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-popes-refusal-to-quit-brave-selfless-or-simply-egotistical-at-this-point/271225>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [October 26, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-popes-refusal-to-quit-brave-selfless-or-simply-egotistical-at-this-point/271225 "2004-10-26T13:38:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-popes-refusal-to-quit-brave-selfless-or-simply-egotistical-at-this-point/271225/21 "2004-10-28T16:31:41Z")

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> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> catholics generally believe suicide is one of a very few unforgiveable sins.
> 
> Question : is the Pope Catholic?
> 
> 😉

So you think going about ones duties and hoping possibly to meet death sooner thereby is suicide?

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-popes-refusal-to-quit-brave-selfless-or-simply-egotistical-at-this-point/271225/22 "2004-10-28T18:06:12Z")

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Let’s say the Pope retires and a new one is elected. There are three possible scenarios

1. The Pope goes into seclusion, or a nursing home.

In which case there is a faction that will undoubtedly claim the pope was forced into retiring and being held prisoner

1. The Pope lives a vigorous public life.

In which case he deflects attention and loyalty away from his successor

1. The Pope leads a quiet, but open life

In which case every scrap of writing and every word he utters is torturously examined to see if he agress or disagrees with his successor.

I think Queen Elizabeth II is the model for this. Left to her own desires, she might have handed the keys to the castle over to Charles years ago. But her own sense of duty, the memories of her uncle (Edward VIII, who abdicated) and her father (George VI, who succeeded him), and probably a lingering suspicion that Charles might screw up on the job will keep her on the throne for the rest of her life.

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-popes-refusal-to-quit-brave-selfless-or-simply-egotistical-at-this-point/271225/23 "2004-10-28T18:58:02Z")

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Is it true that Ferrari gave him an Enzo as a present?

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-popes-refusal-to-quit-brave-selfless-or-simply-egotistical-at-this-point/271225/24 "2004-10-28T22:50:57Z")

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> [@Diceman](#):
>
> Obviously, you’ve never known anyone with Parkinson’s Disease.
> 
> People with this disease deteriorate physically, but there’s nothing wrong with their mind. It’s sorta the opposite of Alzheimer’s.

**Untrue**.

About 1 out of 4 Parkinson’s sufferers have dementia. That number is higher for sufferers over the age of 70.

[Parkinson’s Disease Dementia](http://www.parkinson.org/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=9dJFJLPwB&b=108269&ct=89696)  
QtM, MD

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