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
Lebanese Health Ministry: 1 woman martyred, 11 wounded in Israeli strike on residential apartment in Nabatieh, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four civilians injured in Israeli strike that targeted house in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch strikes on regions of al-Mahmoudiyah, al-Khardali
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli aircraft execute series of strikes in Kfar Tibnit, South Lebanon.
Iranian ambassador in Beijing to Al Mayadeen: We hope that Europe and the US give up their illegal actions and authoritarian hegemony.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli shelling targets displaced persons' tent in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, casualties were reported
IOF storm Jalazone camp, north of Al Bireh city in the occupied West Bank
Israeli media: A severe incident reported in Gaza some time ago
Israeli media: Military evacuation helicopters are transporting injured soldiers from Khan Younis
Israeli media: A security incident has been reported in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip

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

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen delivers her speech during the French far-right party national rally near the parliament in Paris, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Politics

US aide proposed funding Le Pen's legal fight, sparking uproar

People whose names were left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft fill their forms to file appeals near a NRC center on the outskirts of Gauhati, India, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

India accused of illegal Muslim deportations to Bangladesh

Palestinians children mourn over the body of their father, Mohammed Ghaben, who was killed while heading to an aid distribution hub, at the morgue of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP)
Politics

IOF troops admit to killing starving Palestinians: Israeli media

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

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