Pope Francis may consider resignation if health worsens, says senior cardinal

Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi stated in a radio interview on February 20 that Pope Francis might consider resigning if his health were to deteriorate significantly.

"If he found himself in a situation where he was unable to have direct contact with people, then I believe he might consider resigning," Ravasi said, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

He described the Pope’s condition as complex but not critical.

French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline also did not rule out the possibility of resignation. Speaking at a press conference in the Vatican on February 20, he urged the faithful to pray for Pope Francis.

"He is tired. He is one of those people who need to be taken to the hospital if we really want them to get better. Otherwise, they never recover," the influential Archbishop of Marseille told journalists.

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on February 14. There is currently no indication of when he might be discharged. The Pope had resisted going to hospital since mid-December despite evident health problems.

Regarding speculation that Pope Francis might follow the example of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Aveline said: "Everything is possible."

Benedict XVI resigned in 2013 and lived a secluded life in the Vatican until his death in 2022.

Although Pope Francis has repeatedly rejected rumours of his possible resignation, he previously announced that he had submitted a signed letter of resignation to the Vatican Secretariat of State at the beginning of his term. This letter would only take effect if he were incapacitated due to a serious illness and could no longer carry out his duties.

By Aghakazim Guliyev