New US cardinal on Pope Francis resignation rumors
A former bishop who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis on Saturday said that the pontiff would not be resigning in the near future.
A former bishop who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis on Saturday said that the pontiff would not be resigning in the near future.
Talking to The Associated Press ahead of the Consistory, former San Diego bishop Robert McElroy said the pope was “far” from a time when he “can no longer carry the burdens” of his position.
“What he has is a mobility issue, but it has not affected his mind. I can tell you he’s still on top of things,” McElroy added.
But the cardinal went on to say that he thought the “principle” of a pope being able to resign was a good thing.
Pope Benedict XVI in 2013 became the first pope in 600 years to step down.
McElroy was the only North American among the 20 clerics being installed as cardinals at the Vatican on Saturday.
He will bring to the College of Cardinals a fervent loyalty to Pope Francis that has often put him at odds with the conservative majority in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
