Paus Leo XIV is young for a Pontiff. At the age of 69 he is seven years of junior from his predecessor Franciscus when he became a pope, and for nine years to Benedictus XVI for him.
Yet the new pope is older than many people when they retire. And he not only takes on a new hobby. He takes on a high stress role that is expected of him to death.
“The papacy is a huge effort for every person,” said Dr. Nelson Castro, a doctor and journalist who was close to Francis and wrote the book ‘The Health of Popes’. The Pope is a head of state and the worldwide head of the Roman Catholic Church, responsible for supervision of Kerkheology, the name of cardinals and bishops, celebrating masses and taking pilgrimages to distant destinations.
“He has a tough job to do and his health will be a key factor,” said Dr. Castro.
The job can have health benefits.
The “biggest advantage” from working far into old age is cognitive, said Mara Mather, a gerontology professor at the University of South California. The brain is still adjustable, even in old age, she said; Learning new skills at work can retain the ability of a person to think and to process new information, despite the decline that naturally comes with aging.
Leo is perhaps a lower risk of age -related cognitive decline, she added: Studies show that people with at least a university education or who Speak multiple languages (Both are true for Leo) can normally function longer longer than colleagues without those degrees and skills, even if they have neurodegenerative diseases.
What is more, having a feeling of goal increases a person’s positive view and reduces the chance of Last life depression and dementiasaid Dr. Margaret Flanagan, a neuropathologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
And experts said that staying socially involved can reduce the risk of cognitive decline.
James Martin, a Jesuit priest and a consultant from the Vatican communication agency who knew Francis, said that the papacy checks all three boxes. “He has 1.4 billion Catholics to go with. He has a sense of purpose of Jesus Christ. Given the writing of encyclical and homilies and books, he certainly has cognitive involvement,” said Mr. Martin.
It also comes with risks.
Being pope brings new stressors, including a high -profile and diplomatic pressure that could be mentally burdensome. In recent decades, the Catholic Church has had to contend with a series of sex abuse scandals, internal political divisions and thorny questions about theology and its role at the global political stage.
“If there is a problem in the church, it is you,” said Mr. Martin. “You are always for a conversation, you are always the pope.”
One of the most debilitating elements of the work can be the entire journey. Last fall, Paus Franciscus, at 87 and in a wheelchair, flew to Papua -NEW -Guinea as part of a 11-day” Vier link visit to Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
“When he is in those countries, he makes a mass in the morning, a lecture in the afternoon, meeting heads,” said Mr. Martin.
The chronic stress associated with such a prominent role can also increase the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular issues, and weaken the immune system, Dr. Roberto Vicinanza, a associate professor of Gerontology at the University of South California. And as we get older, the body is less able to recover quickly, he said.
The daily demands of the work, in combination with the pressure to stay in the position for life, can also increase the risk of the pope on burnout, which in turn can lead to longer recovery times for illness and poorer mental health, “said Aaron Guest, a university teacher aging Arizona State University.
Moreover, he could have to deal with hearing loss, forgetfulness or reduced mobility, all common problems for people in the 60s and 70s. It can also be more difficult to multitask, get deadlines or respond to stressors quickly, Dr. R. Sean Morrison, chairman of the Geriatrics department and palliative medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine on Mount Sinai.
The spiritual practice itself can be good for his brain and body.
Some studies Older American adults have shown that weekly presence in religious services is associated with lower depression and premature death, Dr. Warren Kinghorn, a psychiatrist and theological ethicus at Duke University. That is partly because religious practice has a tendency to be associated with other healthy behavior, such as not smoking or drinking heavy, Dr. Kinghorn.
The Nun study, which followed 678 Catholic nuns for several decades to study aging and dementia, showed that those who remained intellectual, socially and spiritually active in the 80s and 90s often maintained a better cognitive and physical function than those who did not, said Dr. Flanagan, who now leads the study.
The basis is still important.
The pope must exercise, eat a good diet and get enough sleep to stay healthy, Dr. Castro. “Those are the normal things that everyone has to do to keep their health,” he said. “Popes are people.”
Until now, Leo has been in good health in all reports, Dr. Castro on. He has an affinity with tennis and the Vatican has a court. John Paul II Famous hiking And skied For years in his papacy and a swimming pool built in the Pope’s summer residence. Benedict played the piano.
Yet aging varies greatly from person to person, and how Leo does it – and how long he occupies the papacy – will largely depend on his individual condition and philosophy, experts said.
John Paul II survived a murder attempt and later developed Parkinson’s disease, which was weakened by the end of his papacy. Benedict broke with tradition and got off and said that he was no longer strong enough to perform his papal tasks. Francis worked until the day he died.
“I have many patients who make major social contributions well into their 70s, 80s and even 90s,” said Dr. Morrison and added: “It is much more important to concentrate on physiological and cognitive capacity instead of chronological age.”
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