3 signs Pope Francis might be preparing to resign

Pope Francis' health issues, new appointments to the College of Cardinals, and a planned visit to the tomb of Pope Celestine V have all fueled speculation that the pontiff plans to resign. Here's everything you need to know:

The Vatican announced Saturday that the pope will visit the tomb of Pope Celestine V in the Italian city of L'Aquila in August. This announcement led some observers to speculate that Francis may be telegraphing his own impending resignation.

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If Francis is signaling his intent to resign as well, it would go a long way toward setting a new precedent. Instead of dying in office, future popes would be expected to relinquish the papacy when the mental and physical demands of the office became too much for them to handle.

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On one hand, the time could be ripe for such a resignation. Francis is 85 — the same age Benedict was when he resigned — and he's been using a wheelchair for the past month due to strained ligaments in his right knee, causing him to cancel a June trip to Lebanon.

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https://theweek.com/feature/briefing/1014160/pope-francis-may-be-preparing-to-resign