Pope Francis has said that ‘in case of medical impediment’ he has already signed his resignation and given it to one of the Vatican cardinals. During an interview given to the Spanish newspaper ABC, the Holy Father responded to the question of what would happen “if a pontiff is suddenly disabled due to health problems or an accident.” “I have already signed my resignation,” Pope Francis replied, adding that he did so when the Vatican Secretary of State was Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone. “I signed it and told him: ‘In case of impediment for medical reasons or whatever it may be, here is my resignation.’ They already have it. I don’t know who Cardinal Bertone gave it to, but I gave it to him when he was Secretary of State,” he said. Andreas Thonhauser, EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief, joins us with more details from Rome. Plus, he shares how the Holy Father celebrated his 86th birthday at the Vatican.
Pope Francis Says He Has Signed His Resignation in New Interview
Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today
Share
Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican
Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.
More news related to this article
Pope Leo XIV appoints new president to lead Vatican’s child safeguarding commission
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry in France as the new president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
Pope Leo XIV visits favorite Marian shrine of John Paul II outside Rome
Pope Leo XIV made a private visit Tuesday to the Shrine of Our Lady of Mentorella, Mother of Graces, near Rome, underscoring his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Inside the Vatican Observatory with the Pope’s Astronomer
There is more to Castel Gandolfo than the Apostolic Palace. It is also home to one of the
Report Reveals Escalation Of Violence Against Christians In The Holy Land
The annual report by the Rossing Center, a Jerusalem-based organization dedicated to interfaith coexistence, documented 111 cases of harassment and violence against the Christian community in Israel and East Jerusalem in 2024.
The First Synod on Synodality Assembly is Over. What Comes Next?
The first part of the Synod on Synodality’s two-part assembly concluded Sunday leaving many unanswered questions about the next steps in the process.
Synod on Synodality proposes a Church ‘Observatory on Disability’
The report is the conclusion of the work carried out by one of the 10 study groups created