Canon law states that a pope can resign, but it stipulates that the papal resignation must be “made freely and properly manifested”—conditions that would be difficult to ascertain if a pope were already incapacitated.
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Vatican to host nightly rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square as prayers pour in from around the world
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, will lead a public recitation of the rosary at 9 p.m. Feb. 24 in St. Peter’s Square.
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When the pope is sick or incapacitated, who leads the Catholic Church?
Pope Francis’ hospital stay is raising obvious questions about what happens if he loses consciousness for a prolonged period, or whether he might follow in Pope Benedict XVI’s footsteps and resign if he becomes unable to lead.
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UK court backs Vatican in refusing to say London financier acted in ‘good faith’ in property deal
A British court backed a Vatican tribunal’s ruling that financier Raffaele Mancione defrauded the Holy See of tens of millions of euros related to a London property.
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JD Vance shines global spotlight on case of British army vet prosecuted for silent prayer outside abortion clinic
British army veteran Adam Smith-Connor, recently converted to the Catholic faith, said he was “grateful” that Vance raised his case when he warned Europe about retreating from freedom.
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America Media Announces 2025-26 O’Hare Fellows
Sam Sawyer, S.J., president and editor in chief of America, announced today the selection of three graduating seniors from three U.S. colleges to serve as the 2025-26 Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellows.
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Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs. How worrying is that?
Doctors say pneumonia in anyone can be serious, but for someone of the pope’s age, it’s potentially life-threatening.
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US bishops sue Trump administration for refugee settlement funding freeze
“The conference suddenly finds itself unable to sustain its work to care for the thousands of refugees who were welcomed into our country and assigned to the care of the USCCB by the government after being granted legal status.”
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Three ways Pope Francis should fix the procedures for papal illness, death and elections
The pope needs to prepare for his inevitable decline and death.
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Pope Francis to remain in hospital longer than expected
His clinical condition is “complex,” the Vatican said.