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By Daniel Orton
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Pope Francis remains hospitalized with a severe lung infection, but while clear procedures exist for the resignation or death of a pope, no specific laws define how leadership is handled if the leader of the Catholic Church is unconscious or unable to govern.
Why It Matters
At 88 years old, Francis' latest hospitalization, now lasting 10 days at the time of writing, has renewed debates about succession, papal authority, and the necessity for rules in the event of a pontiff being incapacitated for a prolonged period of time.
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What To Know
Despite being in the hospital, Francis remains officially in charge of the Vatican. Day-to-day operations continue under the leadership of Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and other top officials. Key Vatican functions, such as preparations for the 2025 Holy Year celebrations, remain unaffected.
What Happens When a Pope Gets Sick?
Francis confirmed in 2022 that he had written a letter of resignation in case he became medically incapacitated, handing it to then Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. However, the letter's contents remain undisclosed and it is unclear if such a document would be legally binding under canon law. Papal resignations must be "freely and properly manifested," as was the case when Benedict XVI resigned in 2013.
Canon law currently lacks provisions addressing what happens if a pope becomes permanently incapacitated. While bishops have procedures in place for stepping aside due to illness, no equivalent guidelines exist for the papacy.
Canon 335 states that when the Holy See is "vacant or entirely impeded," nothing can be altered in the governance of the church, but it does not specify what "entirely impeded" means in practical terms.
Recognizing this gap, in 2021, a group of canon lawyers launched an initiative proposing new church laws governing the office of a retired pope and the procedures for determining when a pontiff is unable to lead. Their proposal includes allowing the College of Cardinals to oversee governance during a temporary incapacity and convening a medical commission to assess the pope's health.
What People Are Saying
Canon lawyer Geraldina Boni, a coordinator of the 2021 initiative, said: "At first, the promoting group was accused of imprudently choosing topics that were too sensitive and controversial (...) But then, a widespread consensus formed."
In a 2022 interview with Italian daily Il Giornale, Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda, Francis' canon lawyer, said: "The problem is: who declares that the pope is in a situation where he cannot govern? No one can depose the pope, not even cardinals."
What Happens Next
On Monday morning the Vatican issued a statement that read: "The night went well; the pope slept and is resting."
The Vatican has yet to provide a timeline for the pope's potential discharge from the hospital, and his condition remains critical.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press
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