Speculation of an imminent resignation has been mounting since the 85-year-old was forced to cancel his trip to Africa after doctors warned he needed rest following a knee injury. Pope Francis, who is the Bishop of Rome and head of the Catholic Church, said it was “a painful thing for me not to be able to make this trip” since he wanted to promote peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Rumors surrounding the pope’s future have been fueled by a sudden decision to convene a meeting of cardinals, an official meeting to elect a new pope in late August and a visit to L’Aquila in Italy, which is associated with Pope Celestine V who resigned. the papacy in 1294. In an interview Monday, the pope dismissed the idea of resigning in the near future, saying the idea “never crossed my mind.” He also denied rumors that he had cancer, joking that his doctors “didn’t tell me anything about it.” But he added that he might one day step down if his health made it impossible for him to lead the church, something previously thought unthinkable. “When the time comes I see that I cannot do it [run the Church, because of bad health] will do it [resign],” he said. “And that was the great example of Pope Benedict. It was very good for the Church. He told the popes to stop in time. He is one of the greats, Benedict.” Benedict XVI was the first pope to resign in 2013 rather than rule for life for more than 600 years. A resignation by Pope Francis would make him the second person in less than a decade. Image: Pope Francis was pictured using a wheelchair in May It comes after the Pope was photographed using a wheelchair for the first time in public in May due to his mobility issues. She suffered from knee pain caused by a flare-up of sciatica – a nerve condition that causes pain in the legs. Read more from Sky News: Be kind to your mother-in-law, urges Pope Francis Ukraine war: Pope says Russia’s invasion was ‘perhaps somehow provoked’ However, he confirmed he is on track to visit Canada at the end of July and hopes to travel to Moscow and Kyiv soon after. He also revealed he was suffering from a “small fracture” in his knee and doctors said he would need another 20 days of treatment, preventing him from performing some duties.
