VATICAN CITY
Crux

By John L. Allen Jr.
Associate editor November 17, 2015

Next month Pope Francis will celebrate his 79th birthday, and by all accounts he remains remarkably vigorous. A brief mini-drama in October about an alleged brain tumor turned out to be fantasy, and both in Rome and on the road he keeps up a pace that would devastate most ordinary mortals.

There’s no reason to believe his papacy is nearing an end, and every reason to think it’s full steam ahead.

On the other hand, Francis has dropped hints that his might be a relatively brief run, and he’s also spoken approvingly about the example set by Pope Benedict XVI in resigning. Given his capacity for surprise, it’s entirely possible he’ll blindside the world with a decision to step aside just when it’s least expected.

No matter how things play out, it’s never too early…