New pope asked to work until death

An unnamed Cardinal has told a Milan newspaper, the Corriere della Sera, Cardinals’ plan to ask the next pope to pledge in his inaugural address that he will serve until death.

As Emeritus Pope Benedict begins his retirement, the Sunday Times reported some cardinals are beginning to have doubts about Benedict’s decision.

The Sunday Times says these cardinals believe Benedict’s resignation has destabilised the Church and undermined the sacredness of the papal office.

The unnamed cardinal told Corriere della Sera that it is impossible to abolish the rule that a pope had the right to resign of his own free will, “But for the future we need to safeguard the freedom of the church from external influences,” he said.

The cardinal said some feel concern that a pope could be pressured into stepping down.

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