Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Pope's brother says he should retire if health fails

Msgr. Georg Ratzinger believes that his younger brother, Pope Benedict XVI, should retire if health problems make it impossible for him to fulfill his pastoral duties. 

"If it is not going well health-wise, my brother should have the courage and the willpower to resign from his position," Msgr. Ratzinger told Germany's Bunte magazine. 

He made it clear that he was speaking about a hypothetical concern, rather than any existing health problem. 

"He is very capable of taking action" now, he said.

Msgr. Ratzinger also told Bunte that neither he nor his brother had any serious romantic interests during their youth, since both had determined at an early age that they were destined for the priesthood.