'Pope will go’ story denied

Press, 1 September 1977, Page 9

'Pope will go’ story denied

NZPA-Reuter Rome Vatican officials have { denied reports that the Pope plans to retire on September 26 when he reaches the age! of 80, as he urged cardinals; to do. The officials said such re-1 Sports were “fantasy” and, “inventions”, and that they! had nothing further to say. The newspaper "Paese i Sera” said in a front-page! story that there were insistent rumours in the city of Brescia that the Pope would retire on his 80th birthday and take up residence in a Church institution in the city. Vatican sources pointed out that during a Mass on August 15 at his summer retreat of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope told worshippers he hoped to be there next /ear to worship with them again, health permitting. At the time, the sources said the Pope’s words were a clear sign that he had no intention of retiring and turning the Papacy over to a younger man. Speculation that the Pope might retire became rife last June when the Pontiff named his chief deputy, Giovanni Benelli, a cardinal and Archbishop of Florence. Vatican sources said the move was an apparent attempt by the Pope to designate his successor and clear the way for a possible resignation.