Francis: If I Resign, I Will Stay in Rome as Bishop Emeritus

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“I have no intention of giving up, not yet,” Pope Francis said in a lengthy interview with Mexican journalists Maria Antonieta Collins and Valentina Alazraki for the ViX streaming channel Televisa Univision.

In an excerpt from the interview published on the Univision Noticias YouTube channel, Francis particularly dwells on his state of health and on the rumors that, in recent weeks, have speculated on his resignation from the Petrine ministry.

“Right now I don't feel like the Lord is asking me to do it,” the Pope said, “if I felt like He was asking me, then yes.” He then called it a “coincidence” that he will travel to L'Aquila, where Celestine V is buried, during the next consistory, at the end of August.

Regarding the condition of his knee, the pope stressed that, although he feels “limited,” “it is improving.” But he admitted that he “definitely” could not have made the trip to the Congo. He also recalled the “great example given by Benedict XVI” which will help him “to make a decision” if necessary. He also praised his predecessor.

To a question about the possibility of regulating the figure of the pope emeritus, Francis replied that “history itself will help to regulate it better.” For the future, “it is better to define things or explain them better.” His thought is to stay in Rome: “I am the Bishop of Rome, in this case I would be the Bishop Emeritus of Rome. He then thought of staying in St. John Lateran.

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The Pope also addressed the subject of the pandemic, then offered a reflection on the war in Ukraine, stressing that, for him, it is fundamental to speak “of the country being attacked rather than of the aggressors.” He also confirmed his intention to meet Russian Patriarch Kirill in September during the interfaith event to be held in Kazakhstan.

Citing the tragedy of violence-ridden countries – such as Yemen and Syria – he reaffirmed that we are living through a “third world war in pieces” and that nuclear weapons “are immoral,” including their possession and not just their use.

Francis reaffirmed his condemnation of abortion, which is totally unjust, and this can be affirmed “on the basis of scientific data” which is non-negotiable. As for the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn the judgment on the right to abortion, the pope noted the polarization of the country, asking pastors to take care of the pastoral dimension.

How to behave, then, in the case of a Catholic statesman who supports abortion, he was asked. “I leave it to your conscience, he replied, to speak with your bishop about this inconsistency.” Which has been carefully noted, with some newspapers posting the headline: “Francis accuses Biden of incoherence.”

Some might wonder about the Pope's insistence on denouncing rumors of his resignation: this is at least the fourth time in less than a month that Francis has broached the subject. Certainly, the Pope answers questions, but the fact remains that the rumor cannot be stopped in this way.