Rome
A top Vatican official hinted this week that the increasingly frail Pope John Paul II might resign. The pope, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and was hospitalized with the flu last week, was too ill to preside over Ash Wednesday Mass, which marks the beginning of Lent. He has never before missed such a service. When asked if the pope would step down, Cardinal Angelo Sodano said only, “Let’s leave that hypothesis up to the pope’s conscience.” Until now, the 84-year-old pontiff has always insisted that he would remain in office until his death.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
October 13 editorial cartoonsCartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being releasedThe Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
