If you think your diary looks busy over the next few days, spare a thought for Pope Francis. The 85-year-old, who was confined to a wheelchair for several months this year, is preparing for a big weekend. He will be spending it in the company of the world’s cardinals – the red-clad figures who are supposed to be his closest advisers but seldom meet en masse in Rome these days. Now the pope has finally decided to gather them together – in the Eternal City’s unforgiving August heat.
The pope will be adding to the cardinals’ number today. Tomorrow, he will be dashing off to L’Aquila, the Italian city that boasts the tomb of Pope Celestine V, who resigned in 1294. He will shuttle back to the Vatican for a meeting with the cardinals on his new constitution for the Roman Curia.
In parts of the Catholic world, these relationships have broken down
What is the meaning of this frenetic activity? With Pope Francis, it’s always hard to tell as he likes to keep everyone guessing.
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