Pope Francis has said that he does not intend to resign and that papal resignations should not become a “fashion”.
In remarks to members of the Central Africa Province of the Society of Jesus, Francis said that the late Benedict XVI “had the courage to [resign] because he did not feel up to continuing due to his health”, but said that he did not “have that on my agenda”.
“I believe that the Pope’s ministry is ad vitam,” he said. “I see no reason why it should not be so.”
The Pope was speaking to local Jesuits on 2 February during his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, in one of the private encounters with members of his order which have become fixtures of his overseas trips.
His remarks were published today in the Jesuit journal La Civiltà Cattolica.
He spoke in response to a question about speculation that he would resign, which has mounted since the death of the Pope Emeritus.
Francis said that if such “chatter” were heeded “then we should change popes every six months”.
The Pope also declared himself “conservative” regarding the tenure of the Jesuit superior general, saying: “It has to be for life.”
He observed that “one reason for the lifelong generalship in the society also arises to avoid electoral calculations, factions, chatter”.
Francis has in the past discussed his notional resignation and referred to his pre-written resignation letter, but he insisted that it was “in case I had some health problem that would prevent me from exercising my ministry and I am not fully conscious and able to resign”.
Speaking later in his trip to Jesuits in South Sudan, he compared the letter to one written by Pius XII when he feared being captured by the Nazis, so that “they would only capture Eugenio Pacelli and not the Pope”.
He said that resignation had “not crossed my mind”.
In broader questions about the mission of the Society of Jesus, Francis explained his own acceptance of the episcopate despite the professed Jesuit’s vow not to seek roles of authority.
He said that he had twice refused to become a bishop, and accepted the post of auxiliary in Buenos Aires only with the explicit approval of the superior general.
Elsewhere, he resumed his popular vision of the Church as a “field hospital”, emphasising that it “is not a multinational spirituality corporation” and that “the vocation of the Church is to wounded people”.
The Society of Jesus receives its mission directly from the Pope, and Francis was repeatedly asked what he expected from the two African provinces.
“Courage, tenderness and prayer are enough for a Jesuit,” he said.
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