A post shared on X claims Pope Francis will be resigning from the papacy due to health issues.

🚨Update: Following Pope Benedict XVI precedent, Pope Francis is planning on resigning due to health issues. He will be become the next Pope Emeritus, basically a retired Pope! pic.twitter.com/6KOmhH4SOj

— US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) February 21, 2025

Verdict: False

There is no evidence Francis is planning on resigning. A cardinal pushed back on the claim.

Fact Check:

Francis is currently in the hospital, being treated for double pneumonia, according to Catholic News Agency. His stay was extended by a week, though his health is improving, per the outlet.

Social media users are claiming that Francis is planning on resigning. One user wrote, “Update: Following Pope Benedict XVI precedent, Pope Francis is planning on resigning due to health issues. He will be become the next Pope Emeritus, basically a retired Pope!”

There is no evidence that Francis is planning on resigning. No media outlets have stated Francis would resign. The Holy See’s Press Office has not released any statements on Francis planning to resign. (RELATED: Claim That Trump Plans To Invalidate Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program Is Satire)

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi said that Francis could resign if his health difficulties continued but did not say that the pope would resign, according to Sky News. Another cardinal denied rumors that Francis would resign.

“Let’s not make anything up, the Pope is recovering,” Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said, according to Religion Digital. He also said that “there is no need to talk about resignation, (the Pope) will return to the Vatican in a few days.”