Pope Francis may consider resigning if health deteriorates, says cardinal

Gianfranco Ravasi, an Italian cardinal and former head of the Vatican’s department of cultural affairs, says Pope Francis could consider resigning if his current health deteriorates.

On Tuesday, the Vatican announced that the 88-year-old head of the Roman Catholic Church has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs.

The Church said officials were designated to deliver prepared speeches at events on the Pope’s behalf, while most of the public events on his calendar have been cancelled through to Sunday.

Speaking on Thursday in an interview with the Italian radio network RTL, Ravasi said the Pope is quite “decisive” in his choices and may deem stepping down if he is unable to fulfil his duties.

“I think he could do it because he is a person who is quite decisive in his choices,” Ravasi said.

“He has always had the tendency to fight and react, and that is a legitimate choice too, because he has been able to handle trips in very difficult and challenging conditions, like the one in the Far East.

“However, there is no question that if he found himself in a situation where he was compromised in his ability to have direct contact—as he loves to do—to be able to communicate in an immediate, incisive, and decisive way, then I believe he might consider resigning.”

Meanwhile, the Vatican on Thursday said the pontiff had a restful night in his private tenth-floor suite at the hospital after being admitted with severe breathing difficulties last Friday.

The Vatican noted that the Pope “got out of bed and had his breakfast in an armchair” and that by evening his “clinical condition was improving slightly.”

“He is apyretic and hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable. He received the Eucharist this morning and afterwards went about his work activities,” the Vatican press office said.

Pope Francis will not be the first pontiff to take such a bold step. In 2013, the late Pope Benedict XVI stepped down as the head of the Catholic Church, citing “lack of strength of mind and body”.

Upon his resignation as the head of the Catholic Church, he chose to be referred to as Pope Emeritus until he died in 2022.