Pope Francis, who has frequently stated that he may step down in the future if his health prevents him from leading the Catholic Church, praised the humility of one of the few popes in history to resign willingly rather than ruling for life on Sunday.
L’Aquila, a central Italian city Francis briefly visited, is the final resting place of Celestine V, who resigned as Pope in 1294 after only five months to return to his hermit life, establishing a papal prerogative.
Pope Benedict XVI, who became the first pontiff in 600 years to resign willingly in 2013, paid a visit to L’Aquila four years before stepping down. Francis has previously praised Benedict’s bravery.
When the Vatican announced Francis’ trip to L’Aquila in June to inaugurate an annual “feast of forgiveness,” it fueled speculation that a confluence of events, including the induction of new cardinals on Saturday and meetings on the Vatican’s new constitution beginning on Monday, could foreshadow a resignation announcement.
In an interview with Reuters last month, Francis, 85, laughed off the idea, saying “it never entered my mind,” while leaving open the possibility that he might step down for health reasons in the future.
Francis noted in the homily of a Mass for thousands of people in a central square that Dante Alighieri condemned Celestine in “The Divine Comedy” for what the mediaeval poet called “The Great Refusal.”
But Francis, who prayed silently before Celestine’s tomb, said Celestine demonstrated the strength that comes from humility by relinquishing power.
“In men’s eyes, the humble are seen as weak and losers, but in reality, they are the true winners because they are the only ones who completely trust in the Lord and know His will,” Francis said.
The pope, who has been using a wheelchair and a cane for the past few months due to a knee injury, sat through most of the Mass but read his homily in a strong voice and frequently deviated from the script.
He explained to the audience how the pilot of the helicopter that brought him from Rome had to circle for a while due to thick fog in the mountainous area before finding an opening in the mist. He compared it to seizing a God-given opportunity in one’s life.
Although Francis has denied any plans to resign anytime soon, the visit highlighted the Catholic Church’s need to regulate the status of pontiffs who resign.
In 2009, a devastating earthquake struck L’Aquila, killing 309 people, injuring thousands, and destroying many buildings.
At the start of his visit on Sunday, Francis donned a grey firefighter helmet and was led around the ruins of the city’s cathedral, which is being rebuilt.
