Wednesday's operation stoked debate over a possible resignation and the names in dance for his succession. After the first colon operation, on July 4, 2021, again in Gemelli, it was the Pontiff himself who alluded to that scenario.
Francis has always repeated that the intention to resign "never crossed" his mind. But even if Bergoglio's appointees can choose a successor, anyone who thinks it is a cohesive and uniform "body" would be mistaken from it, writes CNN's John Defterios.