July 4, 2022, 12:20 PM
July 4, 2022, 12:20 PM
In an interview released Monday, Pope Francis denied rumors that he might resign from office due to his health problems and assured that he would soon be able to visit Ukraine and Russia.
“It has never crossed my mind. Not at the moment., not for the moment. Really! “, Assured the sovereign pontiff regarding his resignation during an interview with the Reuters news agency held on Saturday at his residence in the Vatican.
In the last weeks, the severe pain in his right knee forced him to postpone a trip to Africa scheduled for early July, which has revived speculation about a possible resignation, as his predecessor Benedict XVI did in 2013, arguing that he lacked the strength to hold the position.
Francis reiterated that he would resign if his health prevented him one day from leading the Church.
Questioned precisely about it, the pontiff replied: “We don’t know. God will tell.”
The Argentine pontiff explained that suffered “a small fracture” in the knee”which was treated with laser and magnetotherapy.
The head of the Catholic Church also denied rumors that a cancer had been discovered during his colon operation in July 2021 and denounced what he called “gossip”.
