Pope Francis’ predecessor was the first pontiff in about 600 years to retire, but Francis says he has no plans to resign, and is even considering a possible trip to the U.S.
In a historic Vatican City interview with CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell, the 87-year-old leader of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics said the thought of stepping down has never occurred to him.
“Maybe if the day comes when my health can go no further,” Francis said. “Perhaps since the only infirmity I even have is in my knee, and that’s getting significantly better. But it never occurred to me.”
Francis, who took on the papacy in 2013 on the age of 76, now uses a wheelchair, but he described his health as “advantageous.”
Past health problems for Pope Francis
As one in every of the oldest popes within the Church’s history, Francis has handled several health issues, including the flu and two rounds of intestinal surgery. The pope also only has one full lung.
Francis, who’s from Argentina, had “a superb part” of an infected lung removed when he was younger, in line with his authorized biographer, Sergio Rubin.
In “Life: My Story Through History,” a memoir released earlier this yr, Francis wrote about hospital stays and medical treatments, saying he knows that individuals speculate in regards to the next conclave and a latest pope.
“Relax. It’s human. There’s nothing shocking about it,” he writes.
Last yr, the pope was hospitalized for 3 days for what the Vatican called bronchitis, however the pope later described it as a case of pneumonia. Pope Francis also had abdominal surgery last June to repair a hernia and take away painful scarring.
Benedict XVI, the pope who retired in 2013, cited his declining health before stepping down. He died in 2022 at age 95.
No plans to decelerate, with a possible U.S. trip in the long run
Pope Francis has kept a busy schedule over the past decade, traveling to greater than 60 countries. He has trips scheduled to the Far East and Belgium.
In September, Francis is scheduled to go to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. The Belgium trip can be scheduled for September.
Francis said he can also visit the United States, “depending on whether I even have to go and speak on the United Nations.” He added, “It’s a possibility. I’m not certain.”
O’Donnell asked what he would wish to discuss there, and Francis replied, “If I’m going, it’s to discuss peace.”
The possible trip is one in every of the various topics the pontiff addressed in the CBS prime-time special “Pope Francis: The First,” within the video above and streaming on Paramount+.
