The announcement of the head of the Roman Catholic church’s visit to L’Aquila, in the central Apennine mountains, had fueled speculation of a possible resignation announcement after the hiring of 20 new cardinals this weekend. The city was largely destroyed by a 2009 earthquake that killed 305 people and is still rebuilding. It is the burial place of Celestine V, who resigned as pope in 1294 after just five months to return to life as a hermit. In his homily during a service for thousands of people in a city square, Francis noted that in the Divine Comedy Dante had ridiculed Celestino for cowardice in abdicating his papal role, referring to the decision as “the Great Denial.” Francis, who suffers from a painful knee problem and sciatica, arrived at the city’s basilica to pray at Celestine’s tomb in a wheelchair and was helped to his feet by aides. He said that by giving up power, Celestine had shown the power of humility. “In the eyes of people, the humble are seen as weak and defeated, but in reality they are the real winners, because they are the only ones who fully trust in the Lord and know His will,” the 85-year-old Pope said. he said. “Humility does not consist in underestimating ourselves, but in that healthy realism that makes us recognize our potential but also our unhappiness,” Francis said. He applauded Celestine’s courage because “no logic of power could imprison him or manage him.” Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in nearly 600 years to voluntarily resign, visited L’Aquila four years before he resigned. In the past, Francis has also praised Benedict’s courage. Francis has dismissed rumors that he plans to resign soon himself, but also insisted that resignation should be an acceptable option for pontiffs who believe they can no longer adequately lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics. He described how the helicopter that flew him to L’Aquila on Sunday had to circle over the city because of thick fog before finally finding a gap, saying it shows how people should take advantage of an “opening” when it presents itself. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Sixteen of the cardinals inducted on Saturday would be eligible for the conclave of those called to choose Francis’ successor – who under Vatican rules must be under 80 at the time of the vote – if he steps down. The new cardinals come from all corners of the globe, including Brazil, Nigeria, Singapore and East Timor. The inductions mean Francis has chosen 83 of the 132 cardinals eligible to elect a new pope, nearly two-thirds of the total and exactly the percentage needed to pass any proposed name.
