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After his recent trip to Canada, Pope Francis lamented that he would not be able to travel as much as before. Not to disparage the Bishop of Rome, but his plight teaches us all an important lesson about preventive care.
Pope Francis limits travel as he suffers physical illness – a great reminder for us all
I am not a doctor and I am not a nutritionist. Instead of reflecting on his present predicament, I will not say specifically what caused the Pope’s illness.
Speaking on board the papal plane, Francis told reporters that his recent trip had been a “test” and that he had to slow down. The pontiff has been confined to a wheelchair in recent months due to an ongoing knee sprain.
Will he quit his job?
“I don’t think I can move as fast as I used to. At my age and in these limitations, I think I should shrink a little to consider the possibility of stepping aside to serve the Church or vice versa. This is nothing strange. This is not an offense. You can change the Pope. You can change it, no problem. But I think I should limit myself a bit in these efforts.
Of course, Francis insists that good health is a gift from above, but the human body entrusted to us can weaken more quickly than necessary when abused or neglected.
When the time comes for us to suffer or die, it is our time… Ironically, sometimes the ones we think are beyond health are the ones who die unexpectedly. However, most are able to enjoy a long and high quality of life…which includes a long journey…by exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep…small daily lifestyle choices that make a world of difference.
That may not be Francis’s problem, but it is a huge problem for many people I love and respect.
So today, simple advice for you: get up and move. Choose healthy foods over junk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a walk. Hit the gym. Sit in the sauna. Sleep.
It’s not rocket science. Our body is strong, but it can only take so much wear and tear.
Summary
It’s sad to see someone relegated to a wheelchair. While we sometimes can’t prepare for what happens in old age, the Pope reminds us that with more preventative care, exercise and healthy eating, we can continue to navigate the world well into our 80s and beyond. That’s one of my goals…to travel until I die. The Pope doesn’t seem to travel much anymore.
Image: Catholic News Service
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