Will Pope Francis resign?

There are rumours Pope Francis could resign following a spate of health issues the pontiff has suffered from recently. Italian and Catholic media have been “rife with unsourced speculation” the 85-year-old could be set to resign. There are rumours Pope Francis could resignAP Will Pope Francis resign? NPR said the Pope could be preparing to quit following a spate of health issues. They are being fuelled by an announcement that Francis will visit the central Italian city of L’Aquila in August for a feast begun by Pope Celestine V – one of the few popes to have stepped down. Pope Francis, otherwise known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, replaced Benedict XVI, who retired from the job nine years ago. MORE ABOUT RELIGION GOD COMPLEX Elon Musk reveals desire to be 'saved by Jesus' as he praises religion TREASURE TROVE Hidden Ancient Egyptian temple reveals secrets behind gods and religion He was seen as a reformer and offered a sharp contrast to Benedict. But he has been affected by a series of health issues that have stymied his time as Pope. They include colon surgery, which has meant Francis has had to use to a wheelchair for the past month. His visit to L’Aquila has also raised eyebrows. Most read in The Sun AIR DRAMA Plane carrying Royals forced to make emergency landing and return to UK FAN FURY Love Island race row erupts after fans brand the public vote 'segregation' BRADY BUNCH I gave birth every year from 16 to 19, people troll me but I don’t care MMMHOT! Pop brothers Hanson unrecognisable as they appear on This Morning HOT UNDER THE COLLAR I'm a body language expert - the way Meghan Markle showed her nerves RAISING EYEBROWS My friend tattooed my eyebrows but utterly botched them up Benedict visited the tomb of Celestine V in 2009, some four years before stepping down. When was Pope Francis elected? Pope Francis was elected in 2013 with a mandate to reform the Vatican. He recently appointed a swathe of new cardinals who will elect his successor, sparking rumours his agenda may soon be complete. He will have named 83 out of the 132 cardinal electors therefore raising his chances of electing a successor ready to push through a similar agenda of “mercy before dogma”, said The Times. Pope Francis has also invited all cardinals to Rome in August to discuss a new Vatican constitution. It’s understood the new constitution will allow women to head up Vatican departments, impose term limits on priestly Vatican employees, and position the Holy See as an institution at the service of local churches, as part of Francis’s campaign to “make the Vatican less self-referential and more open to the needs of far-flung dioceses,” according to The Week. Read More on The Sun MUST-HAVE I have big boobs and am obsessed with a summer dress - I bought it in two colors RAISING EYEBROWS My friend tattooed my eyebrows but utterly botched them up Who did Pope Francis replace? Pope Francis replaced Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 when the latter chose to step down.