Pope Francis says he could consider ‘leaving aside’ if health deteriorates

Pope Francis says he could consider ‘leaving aside’ if health deteriorates


Pope Francis speaks with journalists aboard the Papal flight back from Canada (Photo: AP)

Pope Francis has acknowledged that he may have to step down one day if serious health problems prevent him from leading the church.

He made the comments at the end of a trip to Canada, in which he apologized to indigenous people for the abuse in Catholic schools and compared their treatment to a cultural “genocide.”

The 85-year-old told reporters on the Papal flight back to Rome: “It’s not strange. It’s not a disaster. You can change the Pope.’

Francis said that while he hasn’t considered resigning before, he realizes he needs to at least slow down.

He added, “I think at my age and with these limitations I need to conserve my energy to serve the Church, or on the contrary, consider the possibility of stepping aside.”

This penitential pilgrimage was difficult for Francis, and there were several times when he was clearly in pain as he changed from sitting to standing.

He used a wheelchair, walker and cane to get around, severely limiting his schedule and ability to blend in with the crowd.


Pope Francis goes to pray at the remains of Saint Francois De Laval after presiding over a Vespers service at the Cathedral Basilica of Notre Dame de Quebec, Thursday, July 28, 2022, in Quebec City, Quebec. Pope Francis crossed Canada this week, offering his long-awaited apologies to the country's indigenous groups for the decades of abuse and cultural destruction they suffered at Catholic Church-run residential schools. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Francis goes to pray at the remains of Saint Francois De Laval after presiding over a vespers service at the cathedral basilica of Notre Dame de Quebec (Photo: AP)

Pope Francis, left, wears a traditional headdress given to him after apologizing to indigenous people at a ceremony in Maskwacis, Alberta, as part of his papal visit to Canada, Monday, July 25, 2022. Pope Francis crossed Canada this week and delivered long overdue apologies to the country's indigenous groups for the decades of abuse and cultural destruction they suffered on Catholic Church-run residential schools. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Pope wears a traditional headdress he was given after apologizing to indigenous people at a ceremony in Maskwacis, Alberta (Picture: AP)

The Argentine pope had strained his right knee ligaments earlier this year and had to cancel a trip to Africa scheduled for the first week of July due to ongoing laser and magnetic therapy.”

“I don’t think I can continue to ride with the same rhythm as before,” he said.

“I will try to keep doing the trips and being close to the people because I think it’s a way to serve, to be close. But I can’t say more than this.’

In an interview with Reuters earlier this month, Francis said he had no intention of stepping down any time soon.

But he has also suggested that he might one day follow in the footsteps of the now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who became the first pope in 600 years to resign from the papacy.


Francis told reporters ‘you can change the Pope’ (Picture: AP)

Francis told reporters on the return flight, “This is honestly not a disaster. There can be a change of pope, no problem with that.

‘The door is open. It is one of the normal options. Until today I have not used that door.

“I didn’t think it necessary to think about this possibility, but that doesn’t mean I won’t think about it the day after tomorrow.

“This trip was a bit of a test. It is true that I cannot travel in this state. Maybe the style needs to change, travel less, take the trips I promised to take, rearrange things.

“But it will be the Lord who decides. The door is open.’

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