In an interview, Francis said that he penned his resignation letter in case the time came and handed it to the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, about six months after he was elected.
Pietro Parolin is the current Cardinal Secretary of State after taking over from Bertone in 2013 following the handover from Pope Benedict XVI to Francis.
Though Pope Francis's low platelet count and mild kidney failure are under control, the prognosis remains reserved, doctors previously said.
THE Pope wrote his resignation letter 12 years ago in case he became too ill to fulfil the holy role as he remains in a 'critical' state in hospital.
The cardinal told Italian radio station RTL: "There is no doubt that the Pope could decide to resign if he found himself in a situation in which his ability to have direct contact with people and to communicate in an immediate, incisive and decisive manner was compromised.".
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