TAKE THEIR ADVICE HOLY FATHER, SLOW DOWN AND TAKE A VACATION!

Remember I wrote a couple of days ago that I thought Pope Francis looked gaunt (at least in the face) and yes the toll of the office I think it starting to show on the 77 year old pontiff. He needs to heed the call of his advisers to go and take some time off. Or is he working at breakneck speed for he knows that he has little time in office? Would Pope Emeritus Benedict preside at his funeral. How weird would that be to have a resigned pope outlive the current pope?

Vatican: ‘Nothing to worry about’ as tired Pope Francis cancels meetings

Josephine McKenna | Jun 10, 2014 |(Religious News Service)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis canceled a second day of private audiences and his morning Mass on Tuesday (June 10) because of a minor illness, but Vatican officials downplayed speculation about ill health.

Francis has set a frantic pace since he was elected pope last year,
and his schedule intensified in recent weeks he traveled to the Middle
East on a demanding three-day official visit. After celebrating Pentecost
Sunday, he hosted the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a momentous
Vatican prayer summit Sunday evening.

Vatican officials have privately expressed concern at the pope’s heavy workload, particularly since he had a portion of one lung removed as a young man. Italian media reports have also suggested he has suffered from back pain recently.

After meeting Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday, the pope had a busy morning of engagements Monday, including a meeting with Cardinal George Pell, who heads the Vatican economic secretariat.

While it is customary for popes to take a break during the summer and leave Rome for the palace at Castel Gandolfo, Francis has chosen to stay in Rome and work, even as his closest advisers are pushing him to take a vacation.

Francis is planning to visit South Korea from Aug. 13-18 and is expected to visit Sri Lanka and the Philippines for a two-day visit in January.

KRE/MG END McKENNA