Brian McDonald
Pope Francis’ predecessor was first pontiff in nearly 600 years to retirebut Francisco says he has no plans to resign and is even considering a possible trip to the US
In a historic Vatican City interview with CBS Evening News anchor and editor-in-chief Norah O’Donnell, the 87-year-old leader of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics said the idea of resigning never occurred to him.
“Maybe the day will come when my health cannot go any further,” said Francisco. “Maybe because the only illness I have is in my knee, and it’s improving a lot. But that never occurred to me.”
Francis, who assumed the papacy in 2013, aged 76, he now uses a wheelchair but described his health as “good”.
Pope Francis’ Past Health Problems
As one of the longest-serving popes in Church history, Francis has dealt with numerous health issues, including the flu and two rounds of intestinal surgery. The Pope also only has a complete lung.
Francisco, who is Argentine, had “a good portion” of an infected lung removed when he was younger, according to his authorized biographer, Sergio Rubin.
In “Life: My Story Through History,” a memoir released earlier this year, Francisco wrote about hospital admissions It is medical treatmentssaying he knows people speculate about the next conclave and a new pope.
“Relax. It’s human. There’s nothing shocking about it,” he writes.
Last year, the Pope was hospitalized for three days for what the Vatican called bronchitis, but the pope later described it as a case of pneumonia. Pope Francis also had Abdominal surgery last June to repair a hernia and remove painful scars.
Benedict XVI, the pope who retired in 2013, cited his declining health before leaving office. He died in 2022 at age 95.
There are no plans to slow down, with a possible trip to the US in the future
Pope Francis has maintained a busy schedule over the past decade, traveling to more than 60 countries. He has trips planned to the Far East and Belgium.
In September, Francisco is expected to visit Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Singapore. The trip to Belgium is also scheduled for September.
Francisco said he may also visit the United States, “depending on whether I have to go and speak at the United Nations.” He added: “It is a possibility. I am not sure”.
O’Donnell asked what he would like to talk about there, and Francisco replied: “If I go, it is to talk about peace.”
The possible trip is one of the many topics that the pontiff addressed in a hour-long interview with O’Donnell airing Monday at 10pm ET on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
