Posted on 08/21/2014 3:42:02 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Addressing journalists on his return from his intense five-day visit to South Korea late Monday (Aug. 18), Pope Francis bantered with reporters and lightheartedly said he may only have “two or three” years left to live.
The 77-year-old pontiff covered a range of topics on the flight back to the Vatican — from war-torn Iraq and his desire to visit the U.S. next year to his personal health, hinting he may retire early.
He was asked how he lived with the immense popularity he has generated around the world, evident when crowds chanted his name on the streets of Rio de Janeiro during his first official visit to Brazil last year.
“I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, so as not to think that I am somebody,” he said. “Because I know this will last a short time, two or three years, and then (go) to the house of the Father,” he said during an in-flight media conference.
Elected in March 2013, Francis has already shaken up the Catholic Church, preaching a message of humility and compassion while moving to clean up corruption and cronyism at the Vatican bank and reforming the Curia.
While he appeared to be in good health, Francis also addressed recent concerns about his well-being and his last-minute cancellation of a visit to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital in June. Years ago he had part of a lung removed, and he reportedly has been troubled by back pain.
“I should have gone to the Gemelli up to 10 minutes before I was there, but I could not do it,” he said. “It is true, they were seven very demanding days then, full of engagements. Now I have to be a little more prudent.”
The energetic pope, who grew up in Buenos Aires, joked about “neuroses” and revealed that his last holiday was a trip outside the Argentine capital in 1975. He said he had recently learned to slow down.
“I change rhythm,” he said. “I sleep more. I read the things I like. I listen to music. That way I rest. In July and part of August I did that.”
The pope reaffirmed his support for former Pope Benedict’s shocking decision to retire and did not rule out a similar move himself.
“I think that the emeritus pope is already an institution because our life gets longer and at a certain age there isn’t the capacity to govern well because the body gets tired, and maybe one’s health is good, but there isn’t the capacity to carry forward all the problems of a government like that of the church,” he said.
“I would do the same,” he added. “I would pray, but I would do the same.”
Pope Francis’ return to the Vatican was marred by news of a family tragedy. On Tuesday (Aug. 19), a road accident in Argentina killed two of his young great-nephews as well as their mother, the wife of the pope’s nephew, the Vatican said.
The guy just says any old thing that pops into his little old head.
I know a bunch of Catholics who will salivate uncontrollably when they read this.
Why do they keep selecting Popes at that age? John Paul II was a tremendous Pope for many years, and now we keep getting the equivalent of one-and-dones. I am not Catholic, but see the importance of a strong and successful Pope leading the church internationally.
No. Even though I have major issues with him, I do not wish him dead.
Salivating.
ALREADY?!?!?! He’s worse than Obama. Just take a vaction, Father, that’s what I’d recommend. Get in a little golf, heck you’re already in Italy, have dinner with some scintillating Italians, gelato for desert, life is good.
-T,FI
“I’m cool with that,” she said, hardly salivating at all.
Coming back to this thread to say something positive about Pope Francis, per twitchy he called James Foley’s family today with his condolences.
Which is very kindly of him, so good on you padre.
Here is the link:
http://twitchy.com/2014/08/21/nice-gesture-pope-francis-phones-family-of-james-foley/
He may go live in the Old Popes’ Home with Benedict.
Don’t worry. The next one probably will be younger.
Benedict thought he wasn’t going to last too long, also, IIRC. He lasted longer and did more than he thought he could.
There’s an answer to that: The papacy is NOT supposed to be a cult of personality, and no one pope is supposed to be that central of an historical figure. The Church doesn’t need nor want a “Francis era” or a “Benedict era” the way that that England has a Victorian era or an Elizabethan era. The fact that Pope John Paul II was such a good pope was a blessing; just imagine if a lesser man had served so long! And, in a way, Francis’s constant commentating has had a huge down side.
The United States protected against all-powerful, nation-shaping presidents by forbidding more than eight years. And indeed, the man who broke that rule radically transformed the very notion of American freedom. The papacy has not been something from which one retires or is ousted from in elections. Even in successions of wicked men from the highly politicized era of the Renaissance (whose wickedness is often exaggerated, but also often very severe), the institution survived infallible; for all his debaucheries, even Pope Alexander never issued false doctrine from the Chair of St Peter. This was acheived in large part by selecting men who were too old to have grand ambitions, and too short lived to restructure the institution.
Caveat: if you think that the continuing problems of the modern world require a strong, long-lasting pope, it is possible that the next conclave may select a younger pope. But with a 2,000-year history of “urgent, modern” problems, I wouldn’t hold my breath. In fact, Pope Francis flapping lips may only make them MORE likely to opt for a short reign.
That’s true. It’s not my religion, so I don’t have a strong opinion, it’s just weird based on recent history to be seeing a new one so often.
I shouldn't laugh.
Certainly not with a mouthful of crackers.
I am speaking only of retirement, not death.
It is my belief that he will be assassinated. And I think he knows this.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.