I signed a letter of resignation in case of health problem - Pope Francis

Francis - who turned 86 on Saturday - had said in the past that he would resign from the papacy if health problems prevented him from carrying out his duties.

In Spanish newspaper ABC, the pontiff said he signed his letter of resignation and delivered it to Vatican Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone before the cardinal's retirement in 2013.

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"I signed the resignation and said to him: 'In case of medical or other impediment, here is my resignation. You have it,' the pope said.

Asked by the interviewer if he wanted this fact known, Francis replied, "That's why I'm telling you."

He added that he did not know what Bertone did with the letter afterwards.

Francis has been limited in his ability to walk due to an inoperable knee condition that has forced him to rely on a wheelchair for the past few months.

The pope has had to cancel or scale back several times over the past year because of the pain and in an interview in July he acknowledged he needed to slow down.

“I think that at my age and with this limitation, I need to save myself a bit to be able to serve the Church. Or, alternatively, to think about the possibility of retiring,” he said. .

Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, resigned due to failing health in 2013. He now lives quietly in Vatican City.

AFP