Given the travel and media demands of the modern age, the selection of a younger Pope could be in the Church’s interest
The resignation of Benedict XVI may have done more than pave the way for Pope Francis to resign, it may have normalised papal resignations and opened the door for the appointment of younger pontiffs, especially since the average age of new popes has been steadily creeping up. That popes tend to be older is hardly news – after a lifetime climbing the ladder, given that popes are generally expected to die in office, there has been a tendency to pick older men because that was the pool available.
