- When journalists asked about the “delicate topic” of what could happen if he were suddenly disabled due to health or an accident, the pope responded, “I have already signed my resignation. It was Tarcisio Bertone, the secretary of state … I signed it and told him, ‘In case of impediment for medical reasons or whatever else I don’t know, here is my resignation.’”
- In July 2021, the 86-year-old Pope Francis underwent surgery to remove a large portion of his left colon, leaving the hospital 10 days later.
- Pope Francis continued, re-emphasizing that the Vatican secretary of state has control of the document, for use in case he was incapacitated.
