VATICAN CITY (CNS): On the eve of Pope John Paul II’s 82nd birthday on May 18, several cardinals said they believed the pontiff would resign if he could no longer lead the Church, but there was no reason for him to do so at the moment.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who is prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and sub-dean of the College of the Cardinals, was asked by a reporter from the Munich archdiocesan newspaper if he knew what the Pope thought about resigning.
‘I have not yet asked him about that, but if he were to see that he absolutely could not (continue), then he certainly would resign,’ Cardinal Ratzinger said.
‘As long as the cost is only suffering (for himself), he will continue,’ the cardinal said. ‘We are always impressed by his iron will.’
Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa was asked by reporters on May 16 if he thought there might come a time when the Pope would need to resign.
‘I think John Paul II also thinks (about) this and feels a great responsibility,’ he said. ‘I am certain that he would have the courage to do so if he reached that point’ of knowing that, for the good of the Church, a healthier man was needed.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls responded to reporters saying, ‘The only thing I can say is to repeat what the Holy Father said yesterday (May 15) at his general audience. The idea was, ‘I will remain here as long as God wants’.’
