Cardinal Parolin: Speculations that speak of a resignation of Pope Francis are useless

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, described as “useless” the speculations that speak of a resignation of Pope Francis and said that the important thing is that he recover his health and can return to the Vatican.

This February 22 Pope Francis has turned eight days hospitalized in the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, where he is treated for bilateral pneumonia. Yesterday, doctors indicated that the Holy Father would remain hospitalized for another week.

However, during these days in some media and in social networks, Francisco to Francisco to the Pontificate has been speculated on social networks.

“They seem to me all useless speculations. Now we are thinking about the health of the Holy Father, his recovery, in his return to the Vatican: these are the only things that matter, ”said Cardinal Parolin to the Corriere della Sera diary.

In some media it has been affirmed that the Pontiff already signed his resignation, however, this was informed by Francisco himself in December 2022 in an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC, clarifying that it was in case of impediment.

“I signed it and said: ‘In case of impediment for medical issues or what I know, here is my resignation. They already have it.’ I don’t know who Cardinal Bertone will have given it, but I gave it to him when he was secretary of state, “he said in that interview.

Cardinal Bertone was Secretary of State Vatican until August 31, 2013, during the first months of Francisco’s pontificate.

In his dialogue with El Corriere Della Sera, Cardinal Parolin added that it is not the first time they run “uncontrolled rumors” or make “some inappropriate comment” when something happens with the health of the Pope

He also confirmed that he has not yet found himself personally with the Holy Father. “I let him know that I am available to meet him, if he considers it necessary, but so far there has been no need,” he said.

The purple said that “it is best to remain protected and have as many visits as possible, to be able to rest and thus make therapies more effective.”

“Thank God the news that arrives from the Gemelli are encouraging, it is recovering. Some office documents have sent him and that means that he is proceeding well, ”he said.