By Fr. Mathibela Sebothoma, Pretoria

With the whole world holding thumbs and praying for 88-year-old Pope Francis, who’s currently in hospital, people are starting to ask big questions about what happens to the Catholic Church’s leadership. On Thursday, February 27, on Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja on Radio 702, the sharp radio journo Relebogile Mabotja had a proper chat with Fr. Hugh O’Connor, the Secretary General of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC). They dug into what this means for the Church, especially with the Pope being so sick and everyone thinking about his legacy.

Pope Francis is in a tough spot at 88, and it’s got everyone talking. He’s the 266th Pope (or 267th if you listen to some historians who argue about it), and since he took over in 2013, he’s shaken things up in the Church. So, with him in hospital, what happens next?

The Church Doesn’t Stop

Fr. O’Connor kicked off by laying out the possibilities. “Alright, let’s check a few scenarios,” he said, keeping it chilled but serious. “If he’s sick but gets better and feels strong enough, he’ll carry on being Pope. But if he doesn’t fully recover and thinks he can’t handle it anymore, he might step down.”

That’s not a wild idea—Pope Benedict XVI did it in 2013 when he got too old and frail. Fr. O’Connor reckoned things have changed with modern times. “Back in the day, people didn’t live this long, and there wasn’t the medical stuff we’ve got now,” he said. “I’d bet this Pope, and other modern ones, have sorted out some kind of plan for if they’re out of action for a while.”

As long as Pope Francis is still breathing, he’s the spiritual leader of the Church. “The big thing is the admin side,” Fr. O’Connor pointed out, getting to the nitty-gritty.

A System That Holds Up

With over 1.3 billion Catholics around the world, the Church has a setup that’s tight but flexible. Fr. O’Connor explained it simply: “You’ve got your local parishes and communities, and they’re grouped into a diocese. The bishop runs the diocese, so things keep ticking over locally without too much drama.”

Here in Southern Africa—covering South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini—the SACBC keeps things rolling. “Our admin stuff carries on,” he said. Same story in the Vatican, where there are all sorts of offices for things like human development, worship, bishops, and comms. “That work doesn’t stop,” he added. “The Church has been at this for over 2,000 years, so we’ve got a system that can handle a Pope passing away or being out of action.”

But there’s a catch. “If Pope Francis ends up on life support—like ventilators and dialysis and all that—it’s a proper ethical headache for the Church,” he said. That could stir up all kinds of stories and conspiracies, especially if someone’s got to decide what to do without clear instructions. For now, though, it’s business as usual—except for big calls like appointing bishops, which need the Pope’s signature. “That’s on hold until he’s fit enough to sign off,” Fr. O’Connor noted.

What’s the Plan If He Goes?

Mabotja pushed him: What if the Pope doesn’t pull through? Fr. O’Connor didn’t skip a beat. “With any big figure, people make plans,” he said, mentioning how plans were ready for Madiba (Nelson Mandela) and Queen Elizabeth II way before they passed. “He’s the 266th Pope. We’ve been doing this for ages.”

If Pope Francis dies, it’s straightforward. “They’ll tell the world, and we’ll have a time to mourn,” he said. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the current Camerlengo, would step in to run the Vatican’s daily activities. Then comes a massive funeral, probably in St. Peter’s Square, with everyone from Catholic bigwigs to politicians and other religious leaders showing up. “You can’t just throw that together overnight,” he said, talking about the logistics of who sits where and who’s invited.

That open vibe fits the style of recent popes, especially since the Second Vatican Council in the ’60s. “Our last few popes have been about the whole world,” Fr. O’Connor said. “They didn’t just talk to Catholics—they spoke to everyone.”

A Time to Think

While Pope Francis is in hospital, the world’s watching and praying. He’s been a game-changer—humble, big on the environment, and always looking out for the underdog. Fr. O’Connor’s chat with Relebogile Mabotja shows the Catholic Church knows how to handle a crisis like this. It’s been around the block for 2,000 years, tweaking its game plan along the way.

Right now, the Church is hanging in there, trusting in God and its solid setup. Whether Pope Francis bounces back or we move to the next chapter, his mark on the world—and the Church—won’t be forgotten anytime soon.