Vatican Plot To Force Pope Francis To Resign: Rival Cardinal Believes It Will Be Successful

Pope Francis is facing possibly the greatest challenge of his tenure as pontiff following the death of his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

The pope, 86, has come under intensifying pressure from conservative members of the Vatican – some of whom have been plotting to either oust him or pressure him into resigning, Knewz.com has learned. The death of Benedict, who also resigned his papacy in 2013 in a near-unprecedented move, has allowed the conservatives’ rebellion against the liberal-minded Pontiff to gain momentum.

Italian newspaper La Stampa reported that a high-ranking cardinal had spoken about the secret plan to push the “communist” Pope Francis out of the Vatican. The cardinal reportedly said that the objective of the plan – which he said had been formulated in various ways – was plain: to place the pontificate under “such stress it will leave him with no choice but to resign”.