Quebec City, Canada, Feb 9, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Canada’s top cleric says Pope John Paul II has much to teach humanity in his frailty and deserves to remain the leader of the universal Church until his death.
Marc Cardinal Ouellet, archbishop of Quebec and primate of Canada, dismissed talk of retirement for the ailing pontiff in an interview with the Canadian Press yesterday.
“After the great service he has given us for 27 years, I think he deserves to die as Pope,” he said, reminding journalists that the Pope has “affirmed several times that he will remain at his post until his last breath.”
The Pope’s hospitalization Feb. 1 has renewed some discussion over whether he should retire.