religious hypothetical

[topaz]

What would happen in the Catholic church if the Pope lost all higher brain function, was still able to breathe on his own but had to rely on a feeding tube to survive?

(Note: better minds than yours have already asked "what's the difference?" so don't even bother to go there.)

I can't possibly imagine that anyone would make the decision to take him off life support. But who would run the place? Is there such a thing as Acting Pope? How does the chain of command work?

Comments

I don't know Catholisism but...

[vespid-interest.livejournal.com]

Doesn't the Pope act with divine consent? And God doesn't have to choose life, just people, so the Pope should be able to do whatever he wants and not violate any admonitions.

Re: I don't know Catholisism but...

[crouchback.livejournal.com]

The Pope is not exempted from following rules of the Church (though, in ages past, some of them have certainly disobeyed many of those rules. Caesar Borgia, father of Lucretia Borgia, comes to mind).

Popes can speak ex cathedra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_cathedra), although, so far, it's only been done 5 times and the promulgtion of the doctrine itself, in 1870, was one of them.

Re: I don't know Catholisism but...

[crouchback.livejournal.com]

Whoops! Confusing my Borgias. Rodrigo Borgia was the Pope, Cesare was hsi illegitimate son and Lucretia's brother.