BBC Gossip
  • Home
  • Health
  • News
  • Crime
  • Local News
  • People
  • Guest Post
BBC Gossip
BBC Gossip
  • Home
  • News
  • Health
  • People
  • Celebrities
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Finance
  • Guest Post
Home Understanding the Succession Plan in the Catholic Church when the Pope is Sick or Incapacitated
  • Local News

Understanding the Succession Plan in the Catholic Church when the Pope is Sick or Incapacitated

    What happens to the leadership of the Catholic Church when a pope becomes sick or incapacitated?
    Up next
    How to know you've had a visit from an ANGEL. Feathers, ladybirds, robins and even coins contain poignant heaven-sent messages: This is what to look for, by author who's a world expert
    Signs of Angelic Visits: Identifying Feathers, Ladybugs, Robins, and Coins as Messages from Above – Expert Author’s Guide
    Published on 23 February 2025
    Author
    BBC Gossip

    VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has established laws and rituals for the transfer of power in the event of a pope’s death or resignation. However, these provisions do not apply in cases where the pope is sick or unconscious. As such, there are no specific guidelines for the leadership of the Catholic Church if a pope becomes completely incapacitated.

    Currently, Pope Francis is in critical condition due to a complex lung infection, yet he remains the pope and retains his authority. The Vatican confirmed on Sunday that Francis is conscious and continues to receive additional oxygen support. Following a respiratory crisis that necessitated high levels of oxygen the previous day, he had a restful night.

    Francis’ hospitalization has prompted questions regarding the protocol if he were to lose consciousness for an extended period or if he would consider resigning, as Pope Benedict XVI did. On Monday, Francis will have been in the hospital for 10 days, matching the duration of his 2021 hospitalization for colon surgery, during which 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon were removed.

    His age and prolonged illness has revived interest about how papal power is exercised in the Holy See, how it is transferred and under what circumstances. Here’s how it works:

    The role of the pope

    The pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter, the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ and the pastor of the universal Catholic Church on Earth, according to the church’s in-house canon law.

    Nothing has changed in his status, role or power since Francis was elected the 266th pope on March 13, 2013. That status is by theological design.

    The Vatican Curia

    Francis may be in charge, but he already delegates the day-to-day running of the Vatican and church to a team of officials who operate whether he is in the Apostolic Palace or not, and whether he is conscious or not.

    Chief among them is the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. In a sign that Francis’ hospitalization foresaw no change to the governance of the church, Parolin was in Burkina Faso when Francis entered the hospital on Feb. 14. Parolin is now back at the Vatican.

    Other Vatican functions are proceeding normally, including the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year celebrations.

    On Sunday, for example, Archbishop Rino Fisichella celebrated a Jubilee Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica that Francis was supposed to have celebrated. Fisichella offered a special prayer for Francis from the altar before delivering the homily the pope had prepared.

    What happens when a pope gets sick?

    Canon law does have provisions for when a bishop gets sick and can’t run his diocese, but none for a pope. Canon 412 says a diocese can be declared “impeded” if its bishop — due to “captivity, banishment, exile, or incapacity” — cannot fulfil his pastoral functions. In such cases, the day-to-day running of the diocese shifts to an auxiliary bishop, a vicar general or someone else.

    Even though Francis is the bishop of Rome, no explicit provision exists for the pope if he similarly becomes “impeded.” Canon 335 declares simply that when the Holy See is “vacant or entirely impeded,” nothing can be altered in the governance of the church. But it doesn’t say what it means for the Holy See to be “entirely impeded” or what provisions might come into play if it ever were.

    In 2021, a team of canon lawyers set out to propose norms to fill that legislative gap. They created a canonical crowd-sourcing initiative to craft a new church law regulating the office of a retired pope as well as norms to apply when a pope is unable to govern, either temporarily or permanently.

    The proposed norms explain that, with medical advancements, it’s entirely likely that at some point a pope will be alive but unable to govern. It argues that the church must provide for the declaration of a “totally impeded see” and the transfer of power for the sake of its own unity.

    Under the proposed norms, the governance of the universal church would pass to the College of Cardinals. In the case of a temporary impediment, they would name a commission to govern, with periodical medical checks every six months to determine the status of the pope.

    What about the letters?

    Francis confirmed in 2022 that shortly after he was elected pope he wrote a letter of resignation, to be invoked if he became medically incapacitated. He said he gave it to the then-secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and said he assumed Bertone had delivered it to Parolin’s office when he retired.

    The text is not public, and the conditions Francis contemplated for a resignation are unknown. It is also not known if such a letter would be canonically valid. Canon law requires a papal resignation to be “freely and properly manifested” — as was the case when Benedict announced his resignation in 2013.

    In 1965, Pope Paul VI wrote letters to the dean of the College of Cardinals hypothesizing that if he were to become seriously ill, the dean and other cardinals should accept his resignation. The letter was never invoked, since Paul lived another 13 years and died on the job.

    What happens when a pope dies or resigns?

    The only time papal power changes hands is when a pope dies or resigns. At that time, a whole series of rites and rituals comes into play governing the “interregnum” — the period between the end of one pontificate and the election of a new pope.

    During that period, known as the “sede vacante,” or “empty See,” the camerlengo, or chamberlain, runs the administration and finances of the Holy See. He certifies the pope’s death, seals the papal apartments and prepares for the pope’s burial before a conclave to elect a new pope. The position is currently held by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the head of the Vatican’s laity office.

    The camerlengo has no role or duties if the pope is merely sick or otherwise incapacitated.

    Likewise, the dean of the College of Cardinals, who would preside at a papal funeral and organize the conclave, has no additional role if the pope is merely sick. That position is currently held by Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91.

    Earlier this month, Francis decided to keep Re on the job even after his five-year term expired, rather than make way for someone new. He also extended the term of the vice-dean, Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81.

    ___

    Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

    You May Also Like
    Netflix reveals details about Lady Gaga on 'Wednesday,' 'Squid Game' and 'Stranger Things' finales
    • Local News

    Netflix shares information about the conclusions of “Wednesday” with Lady Gaga, as well as the finales of “Squid Game” and “Stranger Things.”

    Netflix hosted an event in Inglewood, Calif., where it shared exciting news…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    Fentanyl dealer busted near Colorado State Capitol sentenced to federal prison
    • Local News

    Federal Prison Sentence for Fentanyl Dealer Arrested in Close Proximity to Colorado State Capitol

    DENVER — The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado…
    • BBC Gossip
    • May 31, 2025
    Exercise boosts survival rates in colon cancer patients, study shows
    • Local News

    Study demonstrates that exercise improves survival rates for individuals with colon cancer

    An international experiment, a first-of-its-kind, showed that a three-year exercise program improved…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    Put-In-Bay's Paul Jeris set to blast off into space with Blue Origin
    • Local News

    Paul Jeris from Put-In-Bay is getting ready to launch into space with Blue Origin

    Island local Paul Jeris will journey to space with Blue Origin’s New…
    • BBC Gossip
    • May 31, 2025
    Actor Valerie Mahaffey, 'Northern Exposure' Emmy winner, dies after cancer battle, publicist says
    • Local News

    Valerie Mahaffey, Emmy winner from ‘Northern Exposure,’ passes away after cancer fight, according to publicist.

    Her stage, film and television work ranged from Shakespeare to the hit…
    • BBC Gossip
    • May 31, 2025
    Paris probes antisemitic vandalism targeting synagogues and a Holocaust memorial
    • Local News

    Paris investigating anti-Semitic vandalism against synagogues and Holocaust memorial

    PARIS – Authorities in Paris have launched an investigation after several Jewish…
    • BBC Gossip
    • May 31, 2025
    Water quality predicted 'poor' again at Edgewater Beach due to E. coli concentration levels
    • Local News

    Edgewater Beach Expected to Have Low Water Quality Again Because of High E. coli Levels

    At Edgewater Beach, the amount of E. coli present is currently 106…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    Adam Sandler steps back on the golf green in latest 'Happy Gilmore 2' trailer
    • Local News

    Adam Sandler returns to the golf course in the new preview for ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

    The sports comedy sequel will also feature many familiar faces from the…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    Families of Kate Brown, Carnell Sledge release statement following Cleveland Metroparks police update on double homicide investigation
    • Local News

    Kate Brown and Carnell Sledge’s families issue statement after Cleveland Metroparks police provide an update on the investigation of their double homicide

    “Due to the close proximity of the Westpark murder, Metropark detectives are…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    ‘He did nothing wrong:’ Family demands answers after Orange County deputies shoot, kill man
    • Local News

    “Family Seeks Answers: Orange County Deputies Shoot and Kill Man Despite No Wrongdoing”

    In Orange County, Florida, the family of a man who was shot…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    Akron police release bodycam video from incident where suspect fired at officers
    • Local News

    Police in Akron share bodycam footage from incident involving suspect shooting at officers

    Police say one officer suffered a ‘minor leg injury.’ A 27-year-old woman…
    • BBC Gossip
    • May 31, 2025
    2 fans died and an officer is in a coma after Champions League celebrations in France
    • Local News

    Tragic Outcome at Champions League Celebration in France: 2 Fans Dead, Officer in Coma

    PARIS – According to French authorities, tragic incidents marred the celebrations following…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025

    Recent Posts

    • Aydan Nix Pays Fashion Homage to Gigi and Bella Hadid at Her Graduation from College
    • Sonny Bill Williams apologizes for sharing video about a dangerous new sport after a tragic incident involving a 19-year-old
    • Netflix’s Tudum 2025 Event Unveils First Full Trailer for ‘Happy Gilmore 2’
    • Netanyahu plans to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program on his own terms and may disregard Trump’s input in final efforts to solidify his legacy.
    • Woman in Florida and two children reportedly lived in a messy situation
    Aydan Nix's subtle fashion tribute to sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid at her college graduation
    • US

    Aydan Nix Pays Fashion Homage to Gigi and Bella Hadid at Her Graduation from College

    Ayden Nix has been integrating into the life of her long-lost sisters…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    Sonny Bill Williams has apologised after he published a video on Instagram appearing to show support for a new viral collision sport
    • AU

    Sonny Bill Williams apologizes for sharing video about a dangerous new sport after a tragic incident involving a 19-year-old

    Former All Blacks player Sonny Bill Williams has apologized for posting a…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Swings Big With First Full Trailer Drop at Netflix’s Tudum 2025 Event
    • US

    Netflix’s Tudum 2025 Event Unveils First Full Trailer for ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

    Prepare to grab your nine iron because Happy Gilmore 2 is officially…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    Netanyahu will obliterate Iran’s nuke empire on his own terms – and could snub Trump in final plan to cement legacy
    • News

    Netanyahu plans to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program on his own terms and may disregard Trump’s input in final efforts to solidify his legacy.

    BENJAMIN Netanyahu is plotting to bomb Iran as it is his “main…
    • BBC Gossip
    • June 1, 2025
    BBC Gossip
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • News
    • Local News
    • Health
    • Crime
    • Guest Post