Catholic Church
Francis thinks about resignation: “The Pope can be changed”
Pope Francis speaks to journalists on plane returning from Canada. The main theme of his visit to Canada was apologizing to indigenous people for decades of abuse in church-run boarding schools.
© Guglielmo Mangiapane / DPA
The many trips make Pope Francis to create. Speaking to reporters on his return from Canada, he stressed that he could well envisage resigning once he is no longer able to fully perform his duties.
Pope Francis wants to travel less because of his health problems or otherwise “step aside”. “I don’t think I can keep the same travel pace as before,” said the 85-year-old church leader on Saturday night on the plane during his return journey from Canada. He must “save his strength a little” or “otherwise think about the possibility of stepping aside”. He added: “The Pope can be changed” – “that’s not a problem”.
The knee causes problems for the Pope
In the past few weeks, the 85-year-old’s health problems have fueled speculation about a possible resignation. He had denied the rumors at the beginning of July. He didn’t think of retiring anytime soon. “At the moment, no, at the moment, no,” he said at the time.
At the same time, he did not fundamentally rule out one day, like his predecessor Benedict XVI. to resign should his health prevent him from holding office. This door remains “open”, Francis now repeated. “But to this day I haven’t pushed open that door.” He hasn’t thought about it either, he added. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t start thinking about it the day after tomorrow.”
The pontiff suffers from pain in his right knee and has been using a cane or a wheelchair for months. In June he had canceled a trip to Africa planned for early July. That week he had traveled to Canada, accompanied by a doctor and a nurse.
Pope plans further trips – also to Kyiv
“This trip was a bit of a test,” the pope said of his 37th trip abroad since his appointment. And his stay in Canada showed “that you can’t travel in this condition”. But he will still try to “be close to the people”.
Despite everything, he is sticking to his planned trip to Kyiv and a trip to Kazakhstan in September, said the head of the church. He also wants to make up for the canceled Africa trip to Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.