Media Release
10th February, 2005

We Are Church welcomes the questioning of an ill pope's ability to fulfil his tasks

The international movement We Are Church welcomes Cardinal Achille Silvestrini's initiative to find, after this pontificate, new regulations for the case of a sick pope unable to fulfil his tasks. "In a new pontificate one could think differently about situations such as illness and aging. Today, however, nobody may address this problem", said former Vatican"Minister of Foreign Affairs" a few days ago in an interview with the Italian daily paper "Quotidiano Nazionale".

Already on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the pontificate of John Paul II. on 16th October 2003 We Are Church had declared that the stepping down of the Pope would be a sign of wisdom and serving the Church. Thus the predominance of the Roman Catholic Curia would finally be stopped and their taking advantage of the frailty of the almost 85 year-old pope, having determined the course of the Roman Catholic church for a long time already.

Like the bishops and cardinals the Pope, too, as Bishop of Rome should abdicate, which is possible according to Canon law. Clear regulations have also to be found for the event of a serious illness. For it must be doubted that a seriously ill pope can guide actively from the sickbed the Roman Catholic church with more than a billion members for a longer period. According to Canon law there are certain crucial tasks that cannot be delegated.

For further information please contact:

C h r i s t i a n W e i s n e r
Chair of the International Movement WE ARE CHURCH
Hildesheimer Str. 103 D-30173 Hannover
Tel.: +49-511-80 00 10 mobile: +49-172-518 40 82
Fax: +49-511-988 60 50
eMail: media@we-are-church.org Internet: www.we-are-church.org