“I love this Pope immensely”, Gege Gerald, a deacon from Switzerland, told AFP in St Peter’s Square, summing up the feelings of many faithful.
“I know he has done a lot of good for the Church, and he will do even more”, he said.
However, Pope Francis is also one of the oldest popes ever – and though he has said the job is for life, the pope has also left the door open to resigning like his predecessor Benedict XVI.
“VITAL FUNCTION”
Italian Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi told the Corriere della Sera on Friday he did not rule out Pope Francis stepping down.
“Francis himself has said he had already signed a letter of resignation at the beginning of his pontificate,” he said.
The fact that “a fundamental vital function such as breathing” was compromised complicates the matter, Ravasi told the paper.
“The knee is one thing, but if one feels that the entire body is in difficulty, it’s another thing.”
French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline also said that while “completely confident in the lucidity of the pope”, he would not rule out a resignation.
“If he considers that it is the best thing for the good of the Church, he will do it,” he told journalists on Thursday.
But Cardinal Jean Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg said Pope Francis certainly would not bow to pressure from his opponents to quit.
“The resignation will depend on how the pope recovers. The decision is up to Francis alone”, he was quoted by AGI news agency as saying.
And rumours the pope was far sicker than believed were “fake news”, Ravasi said.
Whether or not he is contemplating retirement, Pope Francis’ “great desire is to at least complete the Jubilee”, which began in December and is a year of Catholic celebrations, Ravasi said.
“He feels it is his great moment”, he said.
