In November 1994, rumors circulated in Rome of Pope John Paul II’s possible resignation. At a meeting for members and volunteers of the Brazilian TFP, Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira analyzed this hypothesis, commenting on its consequences and opening up the possibility of the election of an Argentine pontiff. “The Question of the Legitimacy of the Pope’s Resignation May Lead to a Chaotic Situation Within the Church.” On November 2, 1994, the Estado de S. Paulo daily quoted a statement by Vittorio Messori, to whom, as you well remember, John Paul II gave the famous interview that later turned into the book Crossing the Threshold of Hope. Messori stated, “They say that the pope is old and ill to foment the idea that he is clinging to power out of sheer ambition despite his precarious condition.” Messori adds that the media are creating a psychological climate to force the pope to resign by manipulating rumors about his health. This news is very important considering the old proverb, “…More