In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the Vatican Secretary of State emphasized that the primary concerns are the Pope's health, recovery, and return to the Vatican. The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith also dismissed any calls for the Pope's resignation as baseless.

"All of this seems to me to be unfounded speculation. Right now, our focus is on the Holy Father’s health, his recovery, and his return to the Vatican—these are the only things that matter," stated Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin in response to recent reports discussing the possibility of Pope Francis' resignation. The Holy Father has been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital since Friday, 14 February, for a respiratory tract infection.

When asked about the atmosphere amid the spread of false news and speculation surrounding the Vatican, Cardinal Parolin replied, "Honestly, I am not aware of such maneuvers, and in any case, I try to stay out of them. It is quite normal in these situations for unverified rumors to circulate or for misplaced comments to be made—this is certainly not the first time. However, I do not believe there is any particular movement in this regard, and so far, I have not heard anything of the sort."

Cardinal Parolin, who recently returned from a visit to Burkina Faso, informed the Pope that he is available to visit him at the hospital if necessary, but so far, "there has been no need."

"In this regard," he added, "it is better for him to remain protected and have as few visits as possible so that he can rest, allowing the treatment to be more effective. Thanks be to God, the updates from Gemelli Hospital are encouraging—he is recovering well. Some official documents have even been sent to him, which means he is progressing."

Meanwhile, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, stated in an interview with the Argentine newspaper La Nación that "it makes no sense for some groups to exert pressure for a resignation. They have done so on several occasions in recent years, but this can only ever be a completely free decision of the Holy Father in order for it to be valid."

"I do not perceive a pre-conclave atmosphere, nor do I see more discussion about a possible successor than there was a year ago—nothing out of the ordinary," he added. "What matters to me is that the Pope’s body has responded well to the current therapy."