Hoax – Pope Leo XIV would have resigned from the position due to accusations.
Analysis
A message with a sensationalist and alarmist tone has gained wide circulation on various platforms, especially on social media, claiming that Pope Leo XIV would have resigned from the pontificate shortly after his election.
The viral content attempts to create a sensation of “scandal” and “urgency” in the Vatican, using impactful phrases such as “SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED IS HAPPENING IN THE VATICAN NOW!” and mentioning “accusations weighing against him” as the motivation for the supposed abandonment of the position. Below is the complete text being verified:
SCANDAL! RESIGNATION OF POPE LEO 14! SOMETHING UNPRECEDENTED IS HAPPENING IN THE VATICAN NOW! OOOOOH MY GOOOD! Folks, something very serious has just been confirmed about the new Pope, Leo 14. Pay close attention to this video, my dear brothers and sisters, according to a good part of the international press, the new Pope Leo X, who has just been elected, may not withstand the weight of the accusations weighing against him and he may come to request resignation.
And before anyone comes here to defend what only the worst criminals defend, I’ll quickly show you here just what happened in the time of Pope Francis, just so you have an idea of what we are talking about, okay? I want to make it very clear here that my fight is not against people, it’s not against religion, it’s against sin. Against the sin that this world insists on loving, insists on defending. Even people who call themselves Christian. “Ah, but the guy is Christian, he should be forgiven and so on, everyone makes mistakes.” My brother, this type of mistake here is not just any mistake. It’s things that make you sick to your stomach, my brother.
Fact Check
This type of narrative seeks easy clicks, exploiting the public’s curiosity and, often, their concern with moral and religious issues. To determine the veracity of the claim, let’s answer the following: 1) Did Pope Leo XIV resign shortly after assuming the pontificate in the Catholic Church? 2) How is Pope Leo XIV currently? 3) Are there similar fake news stories about the pontiff?
Did Pope Leo XIV resign shortly after assuming the pontificate in the Catholic Church?
No. The information circulating about the resignation of Pope Leo XIV is false. Cardinal Robert Prevost, who assumed the pontificate as Leo XIV after the death of Pope Francis, has not resigned from the position. He continues as the leader of the Catholic Church, Bishop of Rome, and sovereign of Vatican City, normally carrying out his duties.
The rumor is a clickbait fake news story that has been circulating since his election, and there is no reliable source or official Vatican statement confirming the alleged departure. Papal resignations are extremely rare events, and any occurrence would be officially communicated and instantly reported by all world media, which did not happen.
How is Pope Leo XIV currently?
Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost) continues to exercise his pontificate, as the successor to Francis. He is active and has not resigned from any position. Cardinal Prevost is the first North American pontiff and has a trajectory marked by his work as a missionary in Peru.
Are there similar fake news stories about the pontiff?
Yes. Pope Leo XIV has already been the target of several sensationalist fake news stories that use his name to generate engagement. For example, untrue allegations have circulated that “Pope Leo XIV would have been forcibly removed from the Church by the police” or that he “fired the archbishop of Aparecida Dom Orlando Brandes”. These rumors demonstrate a pattern of using the pontiff’s name to fabricate stories of “scandal” and “urgency” on social media, aiming only for audience.
Conclusion
The information circulating about the alleged resignation of Pope Leo XIV is categorically false. The Pope, elected after the death of Francis, is in full exercise of his pontificate. The rumor is a “clickbait” tactic that has been circulating since his election, with no basis in any official or reliable source. It is part of a set of fake news stories that seek to create the false impression of an imminent scandal in the Vatican.
Fake news ❌
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