Pope Francis, 86, to have abdominal surgery

[Nearly Sane]

Dear dog, he's 86. Let the poor man retire like any normal institution (note the US presidency is excluded)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65821047

[ProfessorDavey]

Dear dog, he's 86. Let the poor man retire like any normal institution (note the US presidency is excluded)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65821047

It's not as if there isn't a precedent - I get that it would have been hard for the previous pope to make the decision to retire as no pope had done it for ever (well actually since 1415). But now that the precedence has been set, surely it must be straightforward for him to say 'I'm too old, time for a new guy'.

[Walt Zingmatilder]

It's not as if there isn't a precedent - I get that it would have been hard for the previous pope to make the decision to retire as no pope had done it for ever (well actually since 1415). But now that the precedence has been set, surely it must be straightforward for him to say 'I'm too old, time for a new guy'.

To think, An American pontiff could have a career as Pope , retire and stand for the presidency.

[Nearly Sane]

To think, An American pontiff could have a career as Pope , retire and stand for the presidency.

See OP

[Steve H]

Boris Johnson is qualified to stand for the Presidency.

[ProfessorDavey]

To think, An American pontiff could have a career as Pope , retire and stand for the presidency.

Not sure the RCC would countenance this (I know we are talking theoretically, as I think the RCC do not allow any of their ordained clergy from holding any political office, on the basis that they should only have allegiance to the Holy See.

This is why senior RCC cardinals, archbishops etc have never accepted peerages even once they'd left office as they remain RCC ordained priests.

[jeremyp]

Boris Johnson is qualified to stand for the Presidency.

Afraid not. He has doesn't have the residency requirement (fourteen years resident in the USA).

Also, he's not an American citizen.

[Steve H]

Afraid not. He has doesn't have the residency requirement (fourteen years resident in the USA).

Also, he's not an American citizen.

I think he had dual British and American citizenship.
{edit} Apparently, he renounced his American citizenship in 2017, so President Johnson will not be inflicted on the world.

[Steve H]

Abdominus vobiscum.

[Steve H]

The papacy is a branch of showbiz, and showbiz people never retire.