There has been a media circus around Pope John Paul II since he came down with the flu and with his subsequent breathing difficulties and hospitalization.
It’s been suggested by some that the pope should retire, or “resign.”
Not.
There have been popes who have retired in ages past, but one of the last ones to do so was back in 1294. Pope Celestine V retired after only six months as pope; as he was a monk, he wanted to live a solitary life and so gave up being the pontiff in favor of returning to his roots. There were other papal resignations when there was more than one Pope running around, too (1415).
John Paul II can decide on his own what the fate of his papacy will be. If he decides that it's time to retire, then it's time for him to retire. If he chooses to remain, then let him remain. BUT, they need to come up with a plan of succession in the event that the Pope becomes incapacitated and can no longer communicate.
Catholic Canon law does not provide for what happens in the event of a papal incapacitation, but it is clear that Canon law calls for a Pope to guide the church and never intended for a rudderless Church to come into being. So hopefully JPII and the leaders of the church can come up with a plan of action before it's too late.
Even if the plan is to turn over the governing of the day-to-day operations of the Vatican to the Vatican Secretary of State until the Pope recovers, or dies and a new one is elected, that's better than what they have right now, which is nothing.
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