The pope has died

[BombayBicycleclub]

https://news.sky.com/story/pope-francis-has-died-the-vatican-says-12890455 just that really. Will they do the conclave now? Or in a few days as it’s Easter?

He was never forced.
When he was in hospital battling pneumonia and almost died he said his only aim was to give his easter Sunday blessing. Alot of people who are dying usually hang on until their dying wish is fulfilled. As was the case for the pope. It was his wish to he their, he was completely advised against it and told he needed to rest for the next 2 months to recover.

I think he sensed the end was near and he wanted to give the blessing one last time. He fulfilled his duties until the very last moment. I found it moving that he did all of that and then passed away peacefully the next morning.

I hope our local parish priest was watching and reflects on dedication to the job and seeing it through. He uses any excuse to get out of doing anything. He's relatively young in church terms - ie. around mid 50s.
He's more than happy to sit back with his feet up complaining about how much work he has to do and watches retired priests over the age of 80 filling in for him and saying Masses even though they are elderly and infirm and often need help walking around the sanctuary.

Anyone watched a bit of the body lying in state on bbc website. They're not showing the actual pope - just the mourners filing in like they did when Queen died. But it's an open casket and people filming and taking pics is really jarring. Feels really weird

Oh! That really shouldn’t be allowed. So disrespectful.

I’m astounded by the amount of coverage this is getting in the UK media considering there are only about 6 or 7 million Catholics in the UK.
Why is it getting so much publicity ? 🤔

The Pope is a worldwide leader of Catholics - it's not about how many Catholics there are in any given country, it's about how many there are in the world. Compare the extensive coverage in the UK of the US Presidential Elections - that's not based on there being a large population of Americans in the UK, it's based on the global importance and reach of the leader.

@Annascaul - it's really weird. They seem to be stopping selfies with him in background but that's all. It's a free for all apart from that!!

Almost. It's because the Vatican is extremely rich and powerful. They reputedly have one of the best secret intelligence agencies in the world. THIS is why the pope is still so relevant to so many world leaders.

..and I say this as a confirmed, slightly lapsed, Catholic.

Yes, I can well believe that. It is all about influence.

It's a Papist Plot to convert Britain back to the one true faith!
Only kidding. But I recall the hysteria when it was rumoured Princess Diana was going to convert. Suddenly we were back in the 16th century. In the editorial pages of the Times and Telegraph anyway.

Wisdom from the women drinking tea this morning was that 'young cardinals elect old popes', to increase their own chances of a shot at the job before too long.

Absolutely, the pope (the Vatican) is incredibly influential, their organisation has tentacles all over the world. It's not so much about the faithful (but they do underpin the continued wealth) its about the power, it's about what they know and who they have access to.

When there's a new pope you will see all the major world leaders cueing up to see him, and they're not doing it for the votes of the Catholics (although thats nice), they're doing it for the favours and the influence.

Yup, more than a billion and a quarter Catholics worldwide, each and every single one of us a noodly tentacle feeding information back to the Vatican.

Eat your heart out, Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The people who have no clue about Catholicism- specifically RC - should just get off this thread.
You don’t care the Pope has died. Why are you posting

It’s high time they elect a female pope. What is it with all the men?

I would only respect a pope if he sold off the gold and glitter owned by the catholic church and gave to the poor. Nasty institution.

@Ellinor See above.

Sorry what? Is this a private thread?

Why is everyone so gripey on Mumsnet these days? Someone’s died.

@Ellinor You know fine it’s not private. But I want you to know how boring the anti RC is. We’ve heard it a million times. If you’d actually studied Catholicism and had something to say, I would listen

Yes, I'd agree with that. If you are a 66 year old cardinal you aren't going to elect a 59 year old because he's likely to live a similar length of time to you and that means you can kiss goodbye to getting a chance in a few years time. Vote for a cardinal in their late seventies and they'll likely be gone in a few years and you are still young enough to have a shot.
And some say that they elect older popes to avoid long papacies where a pope could do a lot of "damage" if he takes the Church in a direction you don't agree with.

I think Benedict did a very good thing in standing down, and I'm sorry that there was no effort made to establish a process where that became standard at - say 80. Or maybe there was, and they couldn't work out how to do it - does it involve the withdrawal of the principle of infallibility, a badly thought out doctrine, which is why it has only been invoked the once, but still there and problematic.

I suppose it's all wait and see about synodality now.

Only if you think opposing moral corruption is boring. I don’t and I lost what I want. The Vatican makes me shiver 🥶

There’s plenty of moral corruption in the world.
Vatican/ RC are not as bad as some, even if mistakes have been made in the past.
it’s just an easy target.