Pope Francis’ increasing mobility woes were already leading some to speculate that another papal resignation might soon be on the horizon. 

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“But then Francis pulls a kind of a rabbit out of the hat,” America Vatican correspondent and “Inside the Vatican” host Gerard O’Connell tells co-host Colleen Dulle in this episode of “Inside the Vatican.” 

On June 4, the Vatican announced that in the two days between the making of new cardinals in August and the unprecedented meeting of the world’s cardinals, Pope Francis would leave Rome for the central Italian city of L’Aquila, where he would, among other things, visit the tomb of Celestine V, who was the first pope to resign. 

This announcement might have gone unnoticed had it not been that Celestine V was the first pope to resign, and that Benedict XVI had made a pilgrimage to the same pope’s tomb four years before announcing his resignation from the chair of Peter. It was this, Gerry says, “that provided ammunition for the guns of speculation.”

And while neither Gerry nor Colleen believes a papal resignation is imminent, on this episode of “Inside the Vatican” they consider the reasons to heed, or not, the rumors that Pope Francis will soon follow in the footsteps of Benedict XVI and Celestine V.

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Links from the show:

Will Pope Francis resign? Here are some reasons to believe it—and some to be skeptical

What happens if a pope resigns?

A Historic Departure: Reflections on Benedict XVI’s surprise decision to resign

Should there be a pope emeritus? What Pope Benedict’s retirement says about future former popes

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