"I Am Well" and Committed to Leading the Church, Despite Health Challenges

No Plans to Resign, Despite Health Challenges

In a new autobiography titled "Hope," Pope Francis addresses concerns about his health and potential resignation. While acknowledging his age and physical limitations, the 88-year-old pontiff assures readers that he feels well and has no plans to step down.

"The reality is, quite simply, that I am old," he writes. "The Church is governed using the head and the heart, not the legs."

Despite using a wheelchair due to knee and back pain, Francis remains committed to his role as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church. He has faced health challenges in recent years, including influenza, diverticulitis, and a hernia surgery. However, he emphasizes that even during these periods, resignation never crossed his mind.

"Each time a pope takes ill, the winds of a conclave always feel as if they are blowing," he acknowledges, referring to the process of electing a new pope. "The reality is that even during the days of surgery I never thought of resigning."

The new book, released during the Catholic Holy Year, delves into Francis' life and career, including his upbringing in Buenos Aires, his time as a bishop in Argentina, and his decisions as leader of the global Church. He defends his controversial 2024 decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples, emphasizing that "everyone in the Church is invited (for a blessing), including people who are divorced, including people who are homosexual, including people who are transgender."

"Homosexuality is not a crime, it is a human fact," he states.

"Hope" offers a glimpse into the mind and heart of Pope Francis, revealing his resilience, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the Catholic Church.