Pope on the ropes?

[dixiehack]

His Holiness is hospitalized with what the Vatican pinkie swears isn’t Covid. And during the busy season at work.

Pope Francis to be hospitalized for several days with respiratory infection, Vatican says

 

[maumann]

Nobody calling on the phone, 'cept for the Pope maybe in Rome.

(And that's a wonderful Father Guido Sarducci reference in the thread title.)

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

Benedict warming up in the bullpen?

 

[Starman]

Benedict warming up in the bullpen?

He was designated for assignment last year

 

[swingline]

Unconditional release

 

[Starman]

Cleared universal waivers.

 

[Deskgrunt50]

Cross him off then.

 

[Neutral Corner]

<edges away quickly, glancing around for lightning bolts>

 

[Shropshire Slasher]

The Cardinals are on the clock ....

 

[Azrael]

OG gonna be OK

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Turns out those pope in a coat pics are AI generated:

We Spoke To The Guy Who Created The Viral AI Image Of The Pope That Fooled The World

 

[User 149557]

Turns out those pope in a coat pics are AI generated:

We Spoke To The Guy Who Created The Viral AI Image Of The Pope That Fooled The World

It’s still real to me, dammit.

 

[playthrough]

"I am sick and tired of the pope"

 

[HanSenSE]

He's out.

 

[maumann]

Well, take him off the cross then.

 

[tapintoamerica]

Steve Bannon is not happy. Probably en route to Rome to find a hitman right now.
By the way, the current pope is 86? He has only been in charge for a decade or so.
The Catholic Church needs a better farm system.

 

[Starman]

The conventional thinking has been that after the 28-year papacy of JP II, which began when he was 61, the cardinals made a conscious decision to pick two successive guys in their later 70s so a multi-decade papacy would be unlikely. Benedict setting the precedent of retiring will be a strong precedent for future popes to step down if their physical condition gets really marginal. Francis, who had earlier been complimentary towards Benedict's decision to retire, hedged somewhat in recent interviews, hinting he was more inclined to serve until death, or until seriously incapacitated.
I'd guess the next pope will be late-60s to mid-70s, young enough so a 15-year reign could be possible.

 

[Starman]

Bannon and his fascists euro buddies want a pope who will stand his ground and fight it out on the sexual abuse charges.

 

[dixiehack]

There’s got to be some kind of Catholic Nate Silver out there keeping tabs on cardinal appointments and the odds on another progressive pope or one who tacks back hard right.

 

[swingline]

I’m guessing the papal beat would be full of intrigue and skullduggery.