Pope Francis’ declining health, canceled trip fuel resignation rumors

Pope Francis’ recent health struggles, worsening mobility issues and canceled events have fueled rumors that the head of the Catholic Church is about to follow his predecessor into early retirement.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected to the papacy in March 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down at age 85, becoming the first pontiff to do so since Gregory XII in 1415.

Now, some Vatican observers believe that the 85-year-old Francis could become the second — although the pope’s adviser has brushed off the chatter.

Cardinal Oscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga slammed the retirement rumors as nothing more than “cheap soap opera,” according to Religious News Service.

The Holy See so far has given no indications that the pontiff intends to give up the throne of St. Peter, rather than die in office — as has been the custom for the vast majority of the bishops of Rome.

Still, speculations about a possible resignation have been swirling for months. Last July, the Argentine-born pope had the left part of his colon removed during a three-hour surgery because his bowel had narrowed.

Since then, his health has been in apparent decline, and for the past month Francis has been getting around in a wheelchair, or with the aid of a cane, because of knee pain.

The octogenarian prelate reportedly does not want to undergo surgery on his knee — and was quoted as telling bishops in May: “Rather than operate, I’ll resign.”

Francis has been open about his struggles, saying in his general audience address last week that the elderly must accept their physical limitations.

“When we are old, we cannot do the same things we did when we were young: The body has another pace, and we must listen to the body and accept its limits,” he said. “We all have them. I too have to use a walking stick now.”

The bishop of Rome also suffers from sciatica, which caused him to limp even before the issue with the knee arose. A week before the pontiff’s remarks on old age, the Vatican canceled a planned July trip to Africa, citing his health problems.