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Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II greeting pilgrims during a visit to Coventry, Warwickshire, England, May 1982.
By Daniel B. Gallagher, Crisis Magazine, March 25, 2025
Daniel B. Gallagher is a Lecturer in Literature and Philosophy at Ralston College. He previously served as Latin Secretary to Popes Benedict XVI and Francis at the Vatican.
Elderly popes had been the norm for several reasons. Wisdom, of course, comes with age. So does a proven track record. Near-octogenarians have also been elected as “stop-gaps,” such as John XXIII
When Karol Wojtyła stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in 1978 as John Paul II, he was only 58. Though that seemed unusual at the time, the previous century saw Pius IX elected at 54. Although we aren’t likely to see a pope as young as 20-year-old Benedict IX, elected in 1031, it’s safe to say that Pius and John Paul have broken the mold and made it possible for virtually anyone to be elected to the See of Peter.Related posts
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