Pope Francis Signed a letter of resignation in 2013 to be used in the event that he was forced from his functions following poor health.
“I have already signed my resignation. Tarcisio Bertone was secretary of state. I signed him and I said to him:” In the event of obstacles for medical reasons or anything, here is my resignation “”, said the Pope in an interview in 2022, in my opinion, in my opinion. to a report at the time of the New York Post.
The interview on surface surface intervenes when Francis has been hospitalized for more than a week and would have been in critical condition after suffering from an asthmatic respiratory crisis Saturday, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Pope Francis had peaceful rest in hospital after a respiratory crisis, says the Vatican

Pope Francis speaks during the general weekly public at the Paul VI Hall on February 12, 2025, in the city of Vatican. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images)
Francis also received blood transfusions after tests revealed that he had a small number of plates, according to a Reuters report.
Francis, who was 88 years old in December, has long faced questions about what he would do if health problems did not leave him to exercise his functions. Such questions would have been unknown before 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI resigned, becoming the first papal resignation in more than 600 years.
Francis revealed during the 2022 interview that he had given his resignation letter to the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, a reservoir of Benoît XVI, about six months after being elected the papacy in March 2013.

Pope Francis delivers his homily during the weekly general public to the Paul VI Hall on February 12, 2025, in the city of the Vatican. (Reuters / Luca Ciro / File photo)
Pope Francis shares a written message while continuing hospitalization
“You have it. I don’t know who Cardinal Bertone may have given it, but I gave him when he was Secretary of State,” said Francis at the time.
While Francis continued his hospitalization in Rome On Sunday, he shared a message thanking those who kept him in their prayers during his fight for health.
“I recently received many messages of affection, and I was particularly struck by letters and children’s drawings,” published Pope Francis on Sunday. “Thank you for your proximity and for the consoling prayers that I received from the whole world!”

Pope Francis welcomes people during the weekly general public on January 10, 2024, in Vatican City. (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool / Getty Images)
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“I urge you to continue your apostolate with joy and to be the sign of a love that embraces everyone, as the #Gospeloftheday suggests,” said another post. “May we transform evil into goodness and build a fraternal world. Do not be afraid to take risks for love!”