Fr dear Fr: Is there some truth in the many rumours now oscillating and circling around Argentina that the new pope is hoping to abdicate soon, and is it wise to hope for a replacement with a younger man or woman?

Roman protocols. It is a firm established Protocol in Rome that officials of the tribunals and the legal departments do not speculate about the election of a new pope whilst an existing pope is still in useful office, doing useful work. It is regarded as bad form for the officials to speculate out there, so we shall have to pass on this Question to be Answered. Not a spiritual thing to do too much speculating on this Question - we do not wish to be disrespectful. After all, it is not for us to speculate about others.