Last month, Pope Francis appointed 21 new cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church. Although cardinals in the Roman Church maintain their title throughout their lives, those who hold positions within the Roman curia must resign at the age of 75, and no cardinal can vote for a pope once they reach the age of 80. The 75-year age limit is also the same for Roman Bishops (although the Pope can ask them to delay their retirement).

Rome (for all its other failures) clearly gets this one right, recognizing that when these men turn 75, they are no longer on their “A-game.” In other words, it’s time for these men to retire. (The late Pope Benedict XVI…my favorite pontiff of all time…appeared to recognize this reality when he did the unthinkable and stepped down as Bishop of Rome.)

If Roman Cardinals and Bishops cede power at 75, why don’t US politicians and judges? Do we think that men and women serving in the second half of their eighth decade of living, and even later, can make the most wise and prudent decisions? Can we not admit that people that old shouldn’t be leading our nation or hanging on to their positions because they were appointed for life? Isn’t it time that, like our Roman clerical friends, we Americans should impose a mandatory retirement age on those we elect and appoint?

One need only look at many of our nation’s leaders to see what a problem this has become. Regardless of one’s politics, can we honestly say that President Biden or President (Elect) Trump is in their prime? Look at recent Senate and House Leaders on both sides of the aisle, and you will see aging leaders who are shells of their former selves. One recent Congresswoman was found to have been residing in an assisted living facility for over six months!

Similarly, why do we appoint certain judges to life positions that have no further litmus tests of aptitude? Judges can literally serve until they die, with few enforceable measures to remove them if they are believed to be mentally or physically incapable of performing their duties.

I recognize that people are living longer than ever before, that 75 is the new 65 (or something like that). But the politicians and judges serving at this age were, in almost every instance, elected or appointed to their jobs decades earlier. Many (most?) of them are in positions of power not because of what they have done recently but because of what they did years earlier. They are living off their resumes from a previous generation.

It’s time for these men and women to cede their power and positions to those more mentally and physically able. I know there are exceptions, such as not everyone 75 years old or older being unfit to be an elected official or judge (I also readily admit that many younger politicians and judges are wholly unqualified and incompetent!). But again, I ask, if one of the oldest organizations around (the Roman Catholic Church) can admit that 75 is too old, why can’t we?

It’s time for American politicians and judges to retire. And it might be time for us to discuss something else…term limits…for all of them!