Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had an organ donation card. When he was elected as Pope Benedict XVI it “automatically became invalid”. Because:
Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, explained to La Repubblica that the Pope’s body belongs to the whole Church, and its preservation is understandable in view of possible future veneration.
Maybe a cardinal in the Vatican has prophesied this and knows that Benedict XVI will become a Saint. Or it’s been predestined. Predestination is a concept that can be difficult to grasp.
“Future Veneration” of Pope Benedict XVI? | Sentire Cum Ecclesia
Related articles
- Pope Champions Organ Transplants — But Is No Longer Donor (huffingtonpost.com)
- Donor card or not, the pope’s organs are going nowhere (guardian.co.uk)
I dunno…. I can understand the fear of veneration and it has nothing to do with Sainthood. Imagine having a lung, etc… of the former Pope. This might actually lead to veneration of the person, something I don’t think the current Pope would approve of.
I think it is a wise move.
Precisely, Joel. But news items like this are instantly seized upon by bigots to beat the Pope with.