Vatican: Pope Benedict No Longer Organ Donor
Leader of the conservative New Democracy party Antonis Samaras speaks to his supporters during an election rally at Syntagma square in Athens, Friday, June 15, 2012. Greeks cast their ballots this Sunday for the second time in six weeks, after May 6 elections left no party with enough seats in Parliament to form a government and coalition talks collapsed. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) / Petros Karadjias
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican says Pope Benedict XVI, who has long championed organ transplants, is no longer an organ donor.
The pope's secretary Monsignor Georg Gaenswein addressed the issue in a letter to a German doctor who has been using the fact that Benedict possessed a donor card to recruit other donors.
Vatican Radio, in a German language report this week, said Gaenswein wrote that while the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's organ card dates to the 1970s it was rendered void when he became pope.
His secretary sought to put the matter to rest, saying any references to the now invalid document are mistaken.
Until the last century papal organs were removed — not for transplants but to make embalming more durable.
AP The pope's secretary Monsignor Georg Gaenswein addressed the issue in a letter to a German doctor who has been using the fact that Benedict possessed a donor card to recruit other donors.
Vatican Radio, in a German language report this week, said Gaenswein wrote that while the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's organ card dates to the 1970s it was rendered void when he became pope.
His secretary sought to put the matter to rest, saying any references to the now invalid document are mistaken.
Until the last century papal organs were removed — not for transplants but to make embalming more durable.
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Mexico's drug war 20 Photos
- U.K. official: London attack suspects probed before
- London soldier slaying homegrown Islamic extremism?
- Graphic video: Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack Play Video
- Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack 240 Comments
- Tokyo's rockabilly scene 16 Photos
- Who were the 4 U.S. citizens killed in drone strikes? 93 Comments
- Mexican volcano on verge of eruption 15 Photos
3 Comments Add a Comment
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- and we care why?
- reply
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- Really, CBS? Is it this slow of a news day, even with all that's going on in Egypt?
- reply
- linkicon reporticon emailicon
- I guess he's too Holy to help sick people after he's dead.
- reply
