Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted November 26, 2014 An American Catholic priest met Pope Benedict the XVI a few weeks ago and claims he is in good health. In fact, he gushes that "“He is in fantastic health, fantastic health, and his mind is as sharp today and perhaps even sharper than when he was the great theologian and the great pope that we knew him as..." http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/priest-swaps-clerical-hats-with-sharp-healthy-benedict-xvi http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=23223 I don't for one minute trust this report since it doesn't sound like this guy would ever dream of saying anything negative against his pin-up pope. This leaves the Committee with the challenge though of whether or not to put the Pontiff on the 2015 Death List. Thoughts? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RadGuy 1,614 Posted February 26, 2015 He has recently become the 2nd longest lived pope in history. But he'll have to live to be 93 to get 1st place. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I.R.Baboon 221 Posted April 19, 2015 He had a very german birthday last week: http://www.trachtenverband-bayern.de/news-reader/items/bayerische-abordnung-gratuliert-papst-benedikt-1714.html, and he looks pretty good. Well, at least compared to his brother. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Zorders 1,271 Posted April 19, 2015 He had a very german birthday last week: http://www.trachtenverband-bayern.de/news-reader/items/bayerische-abordnung-gratuliert-papst-benedikt-1714.html, and he looks pretty good. Well, at least compared to his brother. Careful with your salutes, fellas. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,645 Posted April 20, 2015 He had a very german birthday last week: http://www.trachtenverband-bayern.de/news-reader/items/bayerische-abordnung-gratuliert-papst-benedikt-1714.html, and he looks pretty good. Well, at least compared to his brother. That's his brother seated, right. Probs worth a mention if he died in early 2016, the kind of mention that would hit a Deathrace qualifying obit. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,571 Posted April 20, 2015 He had a very german birthday last week: http://www.trachtenverband-bayern.de/news-reader/items/bayerische-abordnung-gratuliert-papst-benedikt-1714.html, and he looks pretty good. Well, at least compared to his brother. It's like German Week at Grace Bros. "You've all done very welll" 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Magere Hein 1,400 Posted April 20, 2015 "Ve may haf lost, but ve haf a cunning plan." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted September 7, 2016 Ratzinger is interviewed for a new book about his life: "Asked whether he would celebrate his 90th birthday next year, the retired pope who uses a walking frame and is blind in his left eye, reportedly said "hopefully not". "You realise he has lived his life," said Seewald [the biographer]. "I don't want to say he is tired of life, but that he has simply given all he's got to give." Seewald added that Benedict "himself never expected to live very long after his resignation". "But Ratzinger has an ability to bounce back. One day you think, this was the last visit. The next time you realise he has gathered new strength."" Source: http://www.france24.com/en/20160907-ex-pope-benedict-was-love-young-man-interviewer 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,132 Posted September 8, 2016 So he's another tease. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
I.R.Baboon 221 Posted September 28, 2016 Lots of teasing in his book: Last Testament is nearest to an autobiography from the shy and private man who has remained “hidden to the world” in a former convent in the Vatican gardens. He breaks his silence on issues such as: The “Vatileaks” case in which his butler leaked some of his personal letters that alleged corruption and scandal in the Vatican The presence of a “gay lobby” within the Vatican and how he dismantled it His alleged Nazi upbringing His attempts at cleaning up the “dirt in the church” (clerical sexual abuse) The mysterious private secretary “Gorgeous George” Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youwanticewiththat 611 Posted September 28, 2016 Ratzinger is interviewed for a new book about his life: "Asked whether he would celebrate his 90th birthday next year, the retired pope who uses a walking frame and is blind in his left eye, reportedly said "hopefully not". "You realise he has lived his life," said Seewald [the biographer]. "I don't want to say he is tired of life, but that he has simply given all he's got to give." Seewald added that Benedict "himself never expected to live very long after his resignation". "But Ratzinger has an ability to bounce back. One day you think, this was the last visit. The next time you realise he has gathered new strength."" Source: http://www.france24.com/en/20160907-ex-pope-benedict-was-love-young-man-interviewer What's the ratio of litres of virgin's blood to days of life? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted October 22, 2016 World Cup 'forced Benedict to stand down as Pope' "POPE Benedict quit a year earlier than he had wanted to because the 2014 World Cup in Brazil forced the rescheduling of a key Catholic festival normally attended by a pontiff - which he could not travel to for medical reasons. Long-time papal adviser Monsignor Georg Gaenswein has revealed the reason behind Benedict's surprise announcement in February 2013, when he became the first pontiff in 600 years to quit. Msgr Gaenswein said that a doctor had told Benedict he could no longer take transatlantic flights due to failing health. That posed a dilemma, because, as Pope, Benedict would have been expected to appear at World Youth Day, a popular Catholic event, which was due to be held in Rio de Janeiro. At that time, World Youth Day gatherings were being held every three years, which would have meant it was to take place in 2014. "But World Youth Day that should have taken place in 2014 was moved up [to 2013] because of the soccer World Cup games," which Brazil was hosting in 2014. "Otherwise he would have tried to resist until 2014," Msgr Gaenswein said. Emeritus pontiff Benedict (89) now lives in a Vatican convent. He stepped down from the papacy on February 28, 2013, five months before the Youth Day gathering, which was attended by Pope Francis, who succeeded him as pontiff. Msgr Gaenswein said that in the early 1990s, Benedict, then in his role as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, told Pope John Paul II he could no longer work as the Vatican's watchdog for doctrinal orthodoxy. Ratzinger had suffered a brain haemorrhage, prompting his request to resign the post, Msgr Gaenswein said, but John Paul "categorically refused his resignation". After Ratzinger suffered an embolism in 1994, vision in his left eye deteriorated, Msgr Gaenswein said. "From that point on, thus, already years before his election" as pope, in 2005, "he saw very badly with his left eye. But he didn't let it weigh him down. A semi-blind pope. Who would have ever known?" Msgr Gaenswein added. The aide, who still assists the elderly cleric, expressed sadness that Benedict no longer can take the long walks that were part of his cherished routine." Source: http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/world-cup-forced-benedict-to-stand-down-as-pope-35098406.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joey Russ 7,220 Posted October 22, 2016 Basically, his health made him step down as pope. He needs to be in future deathlist's starting next year, if he survives that long. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deathray 2,940 Posted October 23, 2016 A papal force descends upon us, almost neutered by inactivity. His relationship with the implicit will destroy his gravestone on this world, an though is ill health us not a fabrication, it's not unfair to suggest that such an unusual resignation could well be resultant of evils provocation, or the old boys networks old aged penetration of all things in the church. Not that this of course is probable or even based on any potential evidence, spurious guesswork is often the foundation for the correct reading of a situation - if it works for relations why not for conglomerations or other organisations. I suppose my attribution of blame is wholly inconsiderate and wholly jmprobable, I affirm that Benedict simply is incapable of transatlantic transportation, but he's lived a long duration since us fateful resignation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted December 16, 2016 Ratzinger is interviewed for a new book about his life: "Asked whether he would celebrate his 90th birthday next year, the retired pope who uses a walking frame and is blind in his left eye, reportedly said "hopefully not". "You realise he has lived his life," said Seewald [the biographer]. "I don't want to say he is tired of life, but that he has simply given all he's got to give." Seewald added that Benedict "himself never expected to live very long after his resignation". "But Ratzinger has an ability to bounce back. One day you think, this was the last visit. The next time you realise he has gathered new strength."" Source: http://www.france24.com/en/20160907-ex-pope-benedict-was-love-young-man-interviewer I had a look at the book in a store during my lunch hour yesterday. In the intro, the author confirms that he has had his last visit to Ratzinger and won't be seeing him again. He says that Ratzinger's memory is fading now and that he is very thin. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean 6,314 Posted December 16, 2016 Ratzinger is interviewed for a new book about his life: "Asked whether he would celebrate his 90th birthday next year, the retired pope who uses a walking frame and is blind in his left eye, reportedly said "hopefully not". "You realise he has lived his life," said Seewald [the biographer]. "I don't want to say he is tired of life, but that he has simply given all he's got to give." Seewald added that Benedict "himself never expected to live very long after his resignation". "But Ratzinger has an ability to bounce back. One day you think, this was the last visit. The next time you realise he has gathered new strength."" Source: http://www.france24.com/en/20160907-ex-pope-benedict-was-love-young-man-interviewer I had a look at the book in a store during my lunch hour yesterday. In the intro, the author confirms that he has had his last visit to Ratzinger and won't be seeing him again. He says that Ratzinger's memory is fading now and that he is very thin. Very useful extra info.Would be an embarrisg miss for DL if he dies and isnt on the list. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maryportfuncity 10,645 Posted December 16, 2016 Ratzinger is interviewed for a new book about his life: "Asked whether he would celebrate his 90th birthday next year, the retired pope who uses a walking frame and is blind in his left eye, reportedly said "hopefully not". "You realise he has lived his life," said Seewald [the biographer]. "I don't want to say he is tired of life, but that he has simply given all he's got to give." Seewald added that Benedict "himself never expected to live very long after his resignation". "But Ratzinger has an ability to bounce back. One day you think, this was the last visit. The next time you realise he has gathered new strength."" Source: http://www.france24.com/en/20160907-ex-pope-benedict-was-love-young-man-interviewer I had a look at the book in a store during my lunch hour yesterday. In the intro, the author confirms that he has had his last visit to Ratzinger and won't be seeing him again. He says that Ratzinger's memory is fading now and that he is very thin. Very useful extra info.Would be an embarrisg miss for DL if he dies and isnt on the list. Aye, I'm just about to elect my DDP joker...oh look; white smoke! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted March 12, 2017 Update from last month: aide claims he is in "perfect mental and spiritual health" but physically debilitating little by little: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/02/11/aide-says-benedict-perfect-mental-spiritual-health/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zsa Zsa's leg 884 Posted March 12, 2017 1 hour ago, Davey Jones' Locker said: Update from last month: aide claims he is in "perfect mental and spiritual health" but physically debilitating little by little: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/02/11/aide-says-benedict-perfect-mental-spiritual-health/ So essentially, he's clinging to god for a painless death? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted March 12, 2017 I thought, under Christian theology, only Jesus could be considered to have "perfect spiritual health" so that's a really big claim the Catholics are making. Then again, they do think that the Pope is "Christ's subsittute on earth" so.... Anyway, it sounds like he is just gradually going downhill so he will probably slip away quietly in his sleep one day. I agree with the committee, though, that he won't see this year out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zsa Zsa's leg 884 Posted March 22, 2017 https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/03/19/key-aide-pope-benedict-approaches-90-hes-fine/ - Key aide to Pope Benedict: As he approaches 90, he’s fine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,033 Posted March 22, 2017 2 minutes ago, jackschlotter said: https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/03/19/key-aide-pope-benedict-approaches-90-hes-fine/ - Key aide to Pope Benedict: As he approaches 90, he’s fine So was Chuck Berry. I thought he wasn't planning on seeing his 90th on April 16? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zsa Zsa's leg 884 Posted March 22, 2017 36 minutes ago, YoungWillz said: So was Chuck Berry. I thought he wasn't planning on seeing his 90th on April 16? Well Chuck Berry reached 90, Benedict might not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zsa Zsa's leg 884 Posted April 14, 2017 http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/why-did-pope-francis-visit-benedict-xvi-to-say-happy-birthday-32753/ Pope Francis visits Pope Benedict XVI... Pope Benedict oddly looks as good as he did when he resigned. Should make it to 2018. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
