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Article: Liberal pope often follows a conservative: on papal succession ... and the pontiff now needed. (Column)
- Article from:
- National Catholic Reporter
- Article date:
- June 17, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 National Catholic Reporter. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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On papal succession...
Once again the pope's health is a matter of interest and concern, and that, in turn, raises the issue of papal succession. The Holy Father has fallen twice in recent months, breaking first his arm and then his hip. Recent reports -- especially from priests who have celebrated Mass with him in his private chapel this spring -- indicate that the pope also has Parkinson's disease.
In previous columns I have challenged the conventional wisdom that popes are usually, if not always, succeeded by carbon copies of themselves. Many people believe this to be the case because the pope appoints many, if not most, of the cardinals who will ...