The Catholic Message Board

Doom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 5:39 pm Probably within the next 3-5 years. He is still active, but not in great health. When he stops traveling and starts canceling events left and right, we'll know the end is near. He is the oldest Pope since Leo XIII. The cardinals do need to start thinking about this and having private conversations about it. It is not good to discuss it in public though, bad form.

peregrinator wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 3:32 pm

Doom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 5:39 pm Probably within the next 3-5 years. He is still active, but not in great health. When he stops traveling and starts canceling events left and right, we'll know the end is near. He is the oldest Pope since Leo XIII. The Cardinals do need to start thinking about this and having private conversations about it. It is not good to discuss it in public though, bad form.

When would the Cardinals discuss it in private?

Doom wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2024 5:14 pm all discussion of what qualities we want in the next Pope is an implicit criticism of the current Pope, and that should not be done publicly.

Doom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:28 am In the Middle Ages, it was illegal to discuss the succession of the Papacy at all, it was a civil offense because discussing the issue undermines the current Pope. Do you publicly discuss conflicts and disagreements within your family on Facebook? I bet you don't.

To withstand anyone in public exceeds the mode of fraternal correction, and so Paul would not have withstood Peter then, unless he were in some way his equal as regards the defense of the faith. But one who is not an equal can reprove privately and respectfully. Hence the Apostle in writing to the Colossians (4:17) tells them to admonish their prelate: "Say to Archippus: Fulfil thy ministry [Vulgate: 'Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.' Cf. 2 Timothy 4:5." It must be observed, however, that if the faith were endangered, a subject ought to rebuke his prelate even publicly. Hence Paul, who was Peter's subject, rebuked him in public, on account of the imminent danger of scandal concerning faith, and, as the gloss of Augustine says on Galatians 2:11, "Peter gave an example to superiors, that if at any time they should happen to stray from the straight path, they should not disdain to be reproved by their subjects."

peregrinator wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 9:09 am

Doom wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 8:28 am In the Middle Ages, it was illegal to discuss the succession of the Papacy at all, it was a civil offense because discussing the issue undermines the current Pope. Do you publicly discuss conflicts and disagreements within your family on Facebook? I bet you don't.

If I had parents who abused their authority I might have to criticize them publicly!

Where was this a civil offense? In the Papal States? I can't imagine that it would be a civil offense to "undermine the current Pope" in say France or the Holy Roman Empire.