Pope Francis revealed for the first time in an interview Sunday that he had signed a resignation letter nearly a decade ago should poor health prevent him from carrying out his duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Francis \u2014 who turned 86 on Saturday \u2014 has said in the past that he would step down from the papacy should health problems keep him from his duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Spanish newspaper ABC, the pontiff said he signed his resignation letter and handed it over to the Vatican\u2019s secretary of state, Tarcisio Bertone, before that cardinal\u2019s retirement in 2013.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI signed the resignation and I told him, \u2018In case of medical impediment or whatever, here\u2019s my resignation. You have it\u2019,\u201d the pope said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asked by the interviewer whether he wanted that fact to be known, Francis replied: \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m telling you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that he didn\u2019t know what Bertone subsequently did with the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Francis has been limited in his ability to walk by an inoperable knee condition which has forced him to rely on a wheelchair in recent months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pope has had to cancel or curtail activities several times over the past year because of pain and in an interview in July he acknowledged that he needed to slow down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think that at my age and with this limitation, I have to save myself a little bit to be able to serve the Church. Or, alternatively, to think about the possibility of stepping aside,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Francis\u2019s predecessor, Benedict XVI, quit over failing health in 2013. He now lives quietly in Vatican City. (AFP)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source: News Express<\/p>\n\n\n\n