Pope Francis on Sunday said he has already signed his resignation.
Francis who turned 86 revealed in an interview published Sunday that shortly after being elected pontiff in 2013 he wrote a resignation letter in case medical problems impede him from carrying out his duties.
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Newsonline gathered that the Pope told the Spanish newspaper ABC, that he gave the note to Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who then was the Vatican secretary of state. The pontiff added that he presumes that the prelate currently in that Vatican No. 2 role, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, now has the written instruction.
“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.
When the interviewer asked if he wanted that fact to be known, Francis replied: “That’s why I’m telling you.” He, however, stated that he does not know what Bertone did to the letter.
The Pope has been confined to a wheelchair for some months due to an inoperable knee condition which had made it difficult for him to walk.
Francis has had to limit his activities several times due to his health condition.
In an interview in July, he admitted that he needed to slow down.
“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.
