Pope Francis says he WILL resign if he gets ‘too tired’ to continue in the role
Pope Francis says he WILL resign if he becomes “too tired” to continue in office
- Pope Francis told Italian media he would resign if he was “too tired”.
- The pope has hinted several times this year that he is stepping down from office
Pope Francis has said he can resign if he gets too tired to continue in office.
The 86-year-old pope told Italian media on Friday: “A fatigue that makes you not see things clearly.
“A lack of clarity when it comes to knowing how to assess situations, says Pope Francis.”
He said he was embarrassed about using a wheelchair because of an injury.
In this file photo taken on May 5, 2022 Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair during the audience for the participants of the plenary session of the International Union of Superiors General on May 5, 2022 in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican
This year, the leader of the Catholic Church has fueled speculation that he is stepping down from his position.
In January, he added a sermon on the “virtue of stepping aside at the right time” to growing rumors that he would step down from the position.
He said: ‘It’s easy to get attached to roles and positions, to the need to be valued, recognized and rewarded.’
He continued: “It is also good for us to cultivate, for example [Saint] John [the Baptist]the virtue of putting ourselves aside at the right time and bearing witness that Jesus is the reference point of life.
The Pope had before mention he would resign if his health deteriorated, but turned down general speculation.
Having five popes’demonstrablerelinquished the position throughout history, contested with others.
The most recent was Benedict XVI, who abdicated in 2013 said he was motivated by his declining health due to old age.
Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope to abdicate his position in 598 years, since Gregory XII abdicated to end the Western schism in the Catholic Church.
Contemporary popes are generally expected to hold the position until their death.
The new precedent has sparked rumors that Pope Francis could also step down from the position at some point.
The current pope will arrive in December revealed years ago he had already signed a letter of resignation that was supposed to take effect due to health problems or an accident.