Vatican: Oh, did we forget to mention the pope has a pacemaker?

Time is ticking away for the Benedict pontificate, and now we're wondering: Was the pope's ticker to blame for his sudden resignation? A Vatican spokesman revealed Tuesday that the 85-year-old pope had a pacemaker installed "some time ago," but he insisted that cardiac trouble was not behind the pontiff's almost unprecedented decision to abdicate his post. Federico Lombardi added that the batteries on Benedict's pacemaker were replaced three months ago in a procedure described as "minor" and that heart health issues "had no influence on the [pope's] decision" to leave his job. [Source]

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