During his three meetings so far at the Gemelli hospital with Pope Francis, there has been “absolutely no” talk of the Pope retiring, assured Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on March 17, 2025. The Vatican's Number 2 spoke about the Pontiff's health when answering questions from journalists on the sidelines of an interreligious meeting in Rome.
"Absolutely no," says Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Instead, during their three hospital meetings, they've discussed issues of the Church that need dealt with.
The few people who have been able to see the Pope since he arrived at the hospital on February 14 are the “numbers 2 and 3” of the Holy See, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and his deputy, Monsignor Edgar Peña Parra. They have been officially received three times in his medical apartment on the 10th floor: on February 24, March 2, and March 9.
“I saw him a week ago already, and since then I haven't had another opportunity to see him,” said the cardinal when questioned by the press on Monday. And he added: "I found him better [last week] than the first time.”
According to the Secretary of State, the meetings with the head of the Catholic Church have been an opportunity to discuss important issues for the Catholic Church.
“We present him with the issues and problems that need a solution and the Pope gives his guidance,” he explained. But a possible resignation of the 88-year-old pontiff, who has not appeared in public for over a month, has "absolutely not" been addressed, the Italian cardinal said.
After his first audience at the Gemelli, the Vatican announced that during this meeting with his collaborators, Pope Francis had signed decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and convened a consistory to approve causes for canonization. This surprise announcement raised questions, since it was during just such a meeting of cardinals that Benedict XVI announced his resignation.
Already in an interview with Corriere della Sera on February 22, Cardinal Parolin had described the rumors surrounding a possible resignation as “useless speculation.”
“Now we are thinking about the Holy Father's health, his recovery, his return to the Vatican: these are the only things that matter,” he said.
