Pope in 2013 signed resignation letter in case of bad health

ROME, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Pope Francis revealed in a brand new interview printed on Sunday that after he was elected in 2013 he signed a letter of resignation for use if sometime extreme and everlasting well being issues made it inconceivable to hold out his duties.

Francis, who turned 86 on Saturday and seems to be in good well being aside from a knee ailment, made the remark in an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC.

Francis stated he gave the letter to then Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was a holdover from the earlier papacy of Benedict XVI. Bertone remained within the place for about six months after Francis was elected on March 13, 2013.

Francis has typically stated he would resign if well being impaired him from operating the 1.3 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.

Francis was requested if he believed an official norm needs to be established for instances when well being issues or an accident impeded a pope.

“I’ve already signed my resignation. Tarcisio Bertone was Secretary of State. I signed it and I advised him: ‘In case of obstacle for medical causes or no matter, right here is my resignation’,” Francis was quoted as saying.

“You might have it. I do not know to whom Cardinal Bertone might have given it, however I gave it to him when he was Secretary of State,” Francis stated, including he was revealing it for the primary time in public.

In an interview with Reuters in July, Francis dismissed speculative reviews his resignation was imminent and repeated his typically acknowledged place that he may resign sometime if failing well being made it inconceivable for him to run the Church – one thing that had been virtually unthinkable earlier than Benedict XVI, now 95, resigned in 2013. It was the primary papal resignation in six centuries.

Since July, Francis has made three worldwide journeys – to Canada, Kazakhstan and Bahrain – and plans to go to Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan Jan. 31-Feb. 5.

He was to have made that journey final July however his knee downside compelled its postponement. He now makes use of a cane for brief walks and a wheelchair for longer indoor distances.

Within the ABC interview, Francis stated he believed Pope Paul VI (1963-1978) and Pope Pius XII (1939-1958) had signed comparable resignation letters. Each pontiffs, nevertheless, died whereas in workplace.

Reporting by Philip Pullella; modifying by Jonathan Oatis and Chris Reese

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