UNITED STATES
Catholic Culture
By Phil Lawler ( February 14, 2013 6:11 PM
The mainstream media are suddenly taking a keen interest in Vatican affairs, sending reporters to process the latest unfounded rumors from Rome. Meanwhile self-proclaimed experts on Catholicism are flooding the internet with their own theories. As a result, thousands of inaccurate stories are appearing every day. Once again I encourage readers to treat every new report with caution, and sensational reports with outright skepticism. To separate the wheat from the chaff, keep checking this site.
We cannot correct every misleading story that appears in the media; there are simply too many. But we can, and will, offer occasional bulletins to clear up the most popular misconceptions. For instance:
•The Vatican is not hiding evidence of a medical crisis that prompted the Pope’s resignation. Yes, the Holy Father recently had the battery replaced on his pacemaker, but that is a routine operation. Yes, he stumbled and hurt his head during his trip to Mexico last year. But the injury was not severe, he completed all events on his schedule for that trip, and he has recovered fully. (It would have been sensible for Vatican officials to disclose the accident at the time, but the cult of secrecy runs deep.) Those who see the Pontiff on a regular basis report no signs of physical illness, apart from the ordinary effects of aging in general and arthritis in particular. It’s still possible that the Pope has suffered some new medical setback in recent weeks, but if that is the case, even high-ranking Vatican officials are still in the dark about it. The conspiracy theories, alleging an old illness or injury that has been hidden from the public, are simply wrong.
•Pope Benedict will not directly influence the choice of his successor. The Pope will leave Rome after his resignation, to live for a while at Castel Gandolfo. He probably will not return to Rome until his successor has been elected. He will not participate in the meetings of cardinals prior to the conclave, and he would not be eligible to vote in the conclave in any case, since he is over the age of 80. Certainly everything he says between now and February 28 will be carefully scrutinized for signals about his thoughts on the future of the papacy. But those who know Pope Benedict well agree that he will do his best to avoid influencing the papal election.
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