– Pope Francis Resignation Letter Signed Due To Health Problems
Pope Francis has revealed he wrote a resignation letter after he was elected in 2013 and to be used if severe and permanent health problems made it impossible to carry out his official duties.
The pope had earlier hinted on his retirement that he would step down if health problems keep him away from his duties.
Pope Francis revealed this in an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC that he had signed and handed over the letter to the Vatican’s secretary of state, Tarcisio Bertone, before that cardinal’s retirement in 2013.
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”I signed the resignation and I told him, ‘In case of medical impediment or whatever, here’s my resignation. You have it’,” the pope said.
“You have it. I don’t know to whom Cardinal Bertone may have given it, but I gave it to him when he was Secretary of State,” Francis said.
The pope was to have made a trip last July but his knee problem forced its postponement. He now uses a cane for short walks and a wheelchair for longer indoor distances.
“I think that at my age and with this limitation, I have to save myself a little bit to be able to serve the Church. Or, alternatively, to think about the possibility of stepping aside,” he said.
