Pope Francis admitted on December 18 that he had already signed a letter of resignation should anything unexpected prevent him from fulfilling his papal duties.
“I signed the resignation and told him, ‘In case of medical or other disability, here is my resignation. They have them,’ he told reporters at Spanish daily ABC. The representative of the Catholic world prepares for any eventuality that might prevent him from carrying out his mission papal functions.
Consider the possibility of resignation
Pope Francis celebrating his 86 years old on Saturday 17 December has been suffering from health problems for several years. Knowing the difficulties that pain could pose, he almost signed it ten yearsa letter of resignation from his offices as Pope.
The Pope delivered this letter to the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Monsignor Tarcisio Bertone, just before retiring himself in 2013, the year Francis took office. “I think that at my age and with this constraint I have to take it easy a little to be able to serve the Church. Or on the contrary, to think about the possibility of retiring.”
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Images of Pope Francis tears in the middle of the ceremony, upset by the war in Ukraine and its martyrs
Pope Francis has represented the Catholic world for almost 10 years. He spoke several times in numerous appearances current affairs like the war in Ukraine or marriage for all, his positions have sometimes aroused the ire of some as well as the support of others.
A measure taken by his predecessor
his predecessor, Benedict XVIHe retired in 2013 after health problems. The former representative of the Catholic world still lives in the Vatican at the age of 95.