Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) chief Abdel Ghani al-Kikli confirmed dead.
Gunfire heard in various areas of the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Libyan sources: The Ministry of Interior urges all citizens in Tripoli to remain in their homes.
Libyan sources: Air traffic halted at Tripoli Airport following reports of the death of Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA) chief Abdel Ghani al-Kikli.
Libyan sources: Clashes and military movements reported inside the capital, Tripoli.
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanese officials must also prioritize rebuilding the state economically and socially, as well as returning the depositors’ funds.
Sheikh Qassem: The second priority is reconstruction, and I call on the Lebanese government to place this item first on the agenda of its next session.
Sheikh Qassem: Lebanese officials must prioritize ending Israeli aggression, its violations, its occupation, and securing the release of prisoners.
Sheikh Qassem: We are part of the new era and partners in its benefits, and we want those who previously took certain stances for specific reasons to reconsider them in order to build the country.
Sheikh Qassem: We say to the servants of Israel: return to your national sense so that we can work together.

Pope says he signed his resignation letter nearly a decade ago

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 18 Dec 2022 16:07
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Pope Francis reveals that he signed his resignation letter and handed it over to the Vatican’s Secretary of State in 2013 in case of a medical impediment.

  • x
  • Pope Francis
    Pope Francis

Pope Francis revealed on Sunday for the first time in an interview that he had signed a resignation letter nearly a decade ago should poor health prevent him from carrying out his duties.

Francis — who turned 86 on Saturday — said in the past that he would step down from the papacy should health problems keep him from his duties.

The Pontiff told ABC newspaper that he signed his resignation letter and handed it over to the Vatican’s secretary of state, Tarcisio Bertone, before that cardinal’s retirement in 2013.

"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.

Asked by the interviewer whether he wanted that fact to be known, Francis replied, "That’s why I’m telling you," adding that he didn’t know what Bertone subsequently did with the letter.

Francis has been limited in his ability to walk by an inoperable knee condition, which has forced him to rely on a wheelchair in recent months.

The Pope has had to cancel or reduce activities several times over the past year because of pain, and in an interview in July, he acknowledged 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 indicated.

Related News

Pope Leo XIV commits to continuing Pope Francis' reform agenda

White smoke rises: US Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV - Vatican

Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, quit over failing health in 2013. He now lives in Vatican City.

Pope calls conflict in Ukraine "world war"

In a separate context, Francis considered that the conflict in Ukraine is a "world war" and will not end soon.

"Now [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelensky is sending one of his religious advisers to me for the third time," the pontiff said, adding that "I'm in touch, accepting, helping."

"I don't see the end [of the conflict] in the short term, because this is a world war," he said, pointing out that "there are already several hands involved in the war."

"There are many interests," he concluded.

It is noteworthy that in an extract from his new book, Pope Francis stated that reforming the United Nations was "more than obvious" and that the war in Ukraine exposed the UN's limitations.

The Argentine pontiff indicated that the war in Ukraine highlighted the need to ensure the current multilateral structure -- especially the UN Security Council -- finds "more agile and effective ways of resolving conflicts."

According to the Pope, the organization was founded to prevent the horrors of two World Wars from reoccurring, but while the threat represented by those conflicts remained, "today's world is no longer the same."

Read more: Rights mustn't be violated, lives of punished mustn't be taken: Pope

  • Pope Francis
  • Vatican

Most Read

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu, senior Israeli official says

Trump cut off contact with Netanyahu: Israeli media

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Pakistan downs an Indian jet and hits a military base in Kashmir escalation.

Pakistan downs 3 Indian jets, hits military base in Kashmir escalation

  • Politics
  • 7 May 2025
A Yemeni gunman walks past paintings depicting rockets and scenes in solidarity with Gaza, displayed on a roadside fence in Sanaa, Yemen, Monday, May 5, 2025 (AP)

Oman brokers US-Yemen ceasefire, Israelis in dark regarding deal

  • Politics
  • 6 May 2025
Saree

Yemeni Armed Forces target key Israeli sites, USS Truman

  • MENA
  • 7 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem gives a speech to commemorate martyr Sayyed Mustafa Badreddine on May 12, 2025 (Al Mayadeen Screengrab)
Politics

Israeli pressure doomed to fail, Resistance to prevail: Sheikh Qassem

AP
Politics

'Israel is spiraling' amid Gaza war, internal fractures: The Nation

UNIFIL
Politics

'Israel' hindering Lebanese Army deployment in south: UNIFIL

The scene at BBC Broadcasting House in London, after red paint was sprayed over the entrance. (AP)
Politics

UK journalists given guidebook after failing on covering Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS