Thomson Reuters Foundation
ROME, May 26 (Reuters) – Pope Francis said on Monday he would be open to retiring eventually like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, instead of ruling for life, adding that the concept of a “pope emeritus” could someday become normal in the Church
“I will do what the Lord tells me to do,” he told reporters on the plane returning from a trip to the Middle East, when asked if he someday would retire if his health did not permit him to rule the 1.2 billion-member Church properly.
“I think that Benedict XVI is not a unique case. I think we should see him as an institution who opened a door, the door of emeritus popes,” the 77-year-old pontiff said.
He said the fact that people were living longer had made the possibility of popes resigning for health reasons in the future more likely.
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