Speculation that the 88-year-old Argentine pontiff might be considering stepping down like his predecessor Benedict XVI has oscillated during his over four weeks in a Rome hospital battling double pneumonia.

He was in critical condition until a few days ago but is now slowly recovering.

“Absolutely not,” Parolin firmly replied to journalists on the sidelines of an event celebrating Ramadan, regarding whether Francis might resign.

Parolin reported that he had his last conversation with the ailing pontiff last week at the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli Hospital.

“I believe that we must stick to the medical bulletins,” added Cardinal Parolin, “because they are the ones that tell us the Pope’s exact condition.

“I met him a week ago, then I didn’t have another chance; I found him better than the first time, but this is only an external evaluation.”

“You can’t have in-depth discussions, we present the various situations to him,” the Secretary of State also said regarding the government of the Church.

ANSA