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Pope Francis put to bed any rumors of an upcoming resignation from the papacy.
In a meeting with over a dozen Catholic bishops visiting the Vatican from Brazil, Pope Francis discussed his health and plans for the future of his reign. The pope told visiting Archbishop Roque Paloschi that resigning from the Holy See "does not cross his mind," according to the Portuguese edition of the Vatican's official news service.
However, the pope did not feign great health, reportedly telling the bishops that he was facing many challenges, but that he wished to live the life God gave him until the end.
This private, seemingly off-hand comment quashes weeks of speculation that Pope Francis was considering an end to his papacy.
POPE FRANCIS PREACHES ON 'FRAILTY,' 'OLD AGE' AMID HEALTH CONCERNS
Pope Francis celebrates Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, April 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
The rumors first began after his appointment of new cardinals amid reports of his health challenges and the cancellation of multiple apostolic engagements. Pope Francis added fuel to the rumors by announcing he would visit the central Italian city of L’Aquila in August for a feast initiated by Pope Celestine V, one of the few pontiffs who resigned before Pope Benedict XVI stepped down in 2013.
However, close papal advisor Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga has previously dismissed the rumors as a "cheap soap opera."
Last July, the pope underwent surgery on his colon and was hospitalized for almost two weeks. Since the operation, the pontiff has regularly complained of knee pain and other side effects that make mobility and physical exertion difficult