I have only two or three years left to live' Pope Francis

[pepipop]

Possibly, taken out of context.

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2728759/I-2-3-years-left-live-Pope-Francis-speaks-time-death.html

Pope Francis has spoken publicly about the prospect of his own death for the first time, giving himself ‘two or three years’ before he meets his maker.
In a press conference aboard his jet as he returned from a trip to South Korea, Francis also mentioned the possibility of retiring from the Papacy if he felt he could no longer perform his duties.
His predecessor, Benedict XVI stepped down last year, an almost-unprecedented move that opened the way for Francis’s accession to the Papal throne.
‘I see it as the generosity of the people of God. I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time,’ he said.
Then, apparently light-heartedly, he added: ‘Two or three years and then I’ll be off to the Father’s House.’

 

[christofirst]

People who are uncomfortable or dismayed by things said by the Holy Father are probably marking their calendars, but I would not read too much into what seems like a casual remark. Such a statement might even be a kind of coping mechanism. To shoulder such an incredible burden as a pope must, it might help to tell oneself, “Only a little while longer,” and I’m sure he is ready to go whenever God calls him. At the same time, I’ve no doubt he will stay as long as God requires, and a blessing for us as long as he does.

 

[pacomius]

the pope knows very well how to make lighthearted statements and live a fairly normal life… this might be just another. that however will not stop me from marking my calendar grins

 

[dans0622]

Possibly, taken out of context. …

Hello,

Not much context is provided in that article but the quotation is accurate and I think the article provides proper context. Given what he has said in this interview and elsewhere about Pope Benedict’s resignation, I would not at all be surprised if he resigns at about the time he turns 80 years old, if he lives to that age.

Here’s a full transcript: catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-transcript-of-popes-in-flight-interview-from-korea-96141/

Dan

 

[Tigg]

I hope we are not saying that a papal resignation is now the new norm!

 

[Thermopylae]

I hope we are not saying that a papal resignation is now the new norm!

I’m not a Catholic, but I’d like to know if papal resignations were to be the norm, how would it affect you and your view of the Church?

 

[John_Lazarus]

I hope we are not saying that a papal resignation is now the new norm!

We may end up with a situation where the number of living popes outnumber living anti-popes!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I’m not a Catholic, but I’d like to know if papal resignations were to be the norm, how would it affect you and your view of the Church?

I have no problem with resignation. However, if it became the “norm” then I would have a problem. SAINT Pope John Paul II was a living testimony to the dignity of life at the end of life. The world watched him age. While hot button life issues like abortion and contraception are prevalent in today’s world, it was a powerful witness to the sanctity of life at the end of life. No matter the degenerative state. While it may have been uncomfortable to see or to look at for many it spoke louder than any pronouncement could have.
And as he aged, what was so horrible about a man who gave his very life for the Church, and it also showed that even with a frail weak Pope (at the end) The Church was as strong and as protected as ever. We watched this young pope become old, and then die. Personally It think that should be the norm. Because we need to be shown it, rather than hiding it like an old grandpa in an old folks home we wheel out for Christmas parties.

Now, that being said, I can see where a retirement or whatever can be the prudent thing to do. Honestly, I think BXVI is doing more work now than he was as Pope. I think in this time of war, persecution, martyrdom, and loss of faith, the prayers of this man are one of the most powerful weapons we have.

And I can see an argument for Francis to retire. He has energized the Church and has mixed it up enough that a long pontificate would probably not be effective or prudent. Like I said to my wife a couple of months ago. This is what one year of a pontificate looked like, imagine 10!?
LOL he would run out of controversial things to say!

 

[CWM31]

I’m of the opinion that the Pope should serve for life. I can understand His Holiness Pope Francis wanting to resign in a few years but like some others on here I do not believe that resignation should be the norm. I would hope the successor to our current Pope will serve for life. Currently though, Pope Francis is doing a humble and great job guiding the church that Christ founded. God bless our Pope!

 

[Brandon_Cal]

With the incredible advances in medicine and their resulting increase in human longevity, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if resignation became the norm, nor would it particularly bother me. Think about it for a minute. How effectively do you think a 90 year old Pope with Alzheimer’s or dementia could execute his responsibilities to the Church?

While not Catholic, as a Mormon I’ve witnessed this first hand. During the early 80s the President of the LDS Church was continually being hospitalized due to cardio-respiratory diseases (and his successor later due to dementia and stroke). Since the presidency of the LDS Church is an office for life, the Prophet couldn’t step down. He went almost entirely incognito during his final years, leaving his counselor Gordon B. Hinckley at the helm as the de facto President of the Church. If only there had been a mechanism in place by which LDS Prophets could resign their position and a new President of the Church be called.

 

[Neofight]

I’m of the opinion that the Pope should serve for life. I can understand His Holiness Pope Francis wanting to resign in a few years but like some others on here I do not believe that resignation should be the norm. I would hope the successor to our current Pope will serve for life. Currently though, Pope Francis is doing a humble and great job guiding the church that Christ founded. God bless our Pope!

I’m not sure anyone’s opinion matters.

Which Pope resigns and which Pope remains in the Chair of Peter until death, like all things, will be determined by the guidance of God through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

 

[CWM31]

I’m not sure anyone’s opinion matters.

Which Pope resigns and which Pope remains in the Chair of Peter until death, like all things, will be determined by the guidance of God through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

That is a very true statement, it is the Lord that guides his church and the fact remains that God will determine what each pope does. We should trust that the spiritual guidance will be prevalent every step of the way.

 

[FollowChrist34]

I do think the comment was lighthearted. But no harm in contemplating death.

(Montaigne) Wherever your life ends, it is all there. The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and yet lived but a little. Make use of time while it is present with you. It depends upon your will, and not upon the number of days, to have a sufficient length of life.

(Montaigne) If I were a writer of books, I would compile a register, with a comment, of the various deaths of men: he who should teach men to die would at the same time teach them to live.

I have a very useful exercise I do from time to time. Imagine you will be dead in two months. Try it for a few days. Really makes a difference in your perspective of what matters and what doesn’t (surprisingly, it’s the opposite of being morbid).

As for popes resigning, I can’t oppose it. I think the Church needs strong, coherent leaders. And I want the popes who serve God to have peace and serenity in their later years as they approach death. They should serve as long as God calls them. And I like having ex-popes out there. They are kind of mentors (watchdogs? ). The Blessed John Paul II is an exception; he was a saint. I put him in another league. That kind of courage and dignity is rare in people, pope or not.

 

[AnastasiaRomano]

My grandfather has been saying for at least a decade that he probably only had a couple more years to live… he’s 92 now. God is in control of that, just like He is in control of our Holy Father’s life and ultimate death.

 

[canis73]

I saw the full inteview. It was a casual remark. What I think was much more interesting was the affirmation that Pope Emeritus was not an exception but that it has become a modern institution in his opinion. Meaning, he expects several future Popes, including himself, to make use of the option, if necessary. That was the groundbreaking remark of the interview, if you ask me.

As expected he spoke very fondly and with deep admiration of Benedict.

 

[Joe_5859]

Thanks for the link to the CNA transcript. Here is the full context of the “two to three years” comment:

French journalist Anais Martin, French Radio:

In Rio, when the crowd yelled “Francesco, Francesco!” you responded “Cristo, Cristo!” Today, how do you manage this immense popularity? How do you live it?

Pope Francis:

I don’t know how to tell you. I live it thanking the Lord that his people are happy. I really do that, hoping the best for the people of God. I live it as generosity towards the people. On the inside, I try to think of my sins and my errors not to flatter myself because I know it won’t last long. Two or three years and then (makes a sound and gesture) up to the house of the of the Father. It’s not wise to believe this. I live it as the presence of the Lord in his people who uses his bishop, the shepherd of the people to do so many things. I live it more naturally than before. Before I was a bit scared. Also, it comes to mind not to make errors because you can’t do wrong for the people and all these things.

That doesn’t seem that odd a thing to say to me. My wife’s grandmother was saying for years, “I’ll never live to see you graduate high school.” Then it was “I’ll never live to see you graduate college.” Then it was “I’ll never live to see you get married.” Then it was “I’ll never live to see you have children.” But she lived to see all of the above. It just strikes me as something older people say. No particular significance to that. It’s not as if Pope Francis was claiming he had some vision or something.

Here is the full context of the “pope emeritus” comments:

German journalist from KNA:

What type of relationship is there between you and Benedict XVI? Is there an habitual exchange of opinions and ideas? Is there a common project after this encyclical?

Pope Francis:

We see each other. Before leaving I went to see him. He, two weeks prior, had sent me an interesting text and he asked me an opinion. We have a normal relationship because I go back to this idea and maybe a theologian doesn’t like it. But, I think that the pope emeritus is not an exception. After so many centuries, he’s the first emeritus and let’s think that if i am aged and don’t have the strength, but it was a beautiful gesture of nobility and also humility and courage. But, I think that 70 years ago also the bishops emeritus were an exception. They didn’t exist. Today, the bishops emeritus are an institution. I think that the pope emeritus is already an institution. Why? Our lives are getting longer and at a certain age there is not the capacity to govern well, because the body tires and health perhaps is good but there is the capacity to carry forward all of the problems like those in the governance of the church. I think that Pope Benedict made this gesture of popes emeritus. I repeat that maybe some theologian would say this isn’t just, but i think like this. The centuries will tell if it’s like this or not, we’ll see, but if you can to say to me, ‘but do you think that one day if you don’t feel like it, will you go on?’ But, I would do the same. I would do the same. I will pray, but I would do the same. He opened a door that is institutional not exceptional. And our relationship is one of brothers, truly, but I’ve said that it’s like having a grandfather at home for the wisdom. He has a wisdom with his nuances and it does me well to hear. He encourages me a lot. This is the relationship we have.

In Pope Francis’ mind, Pope Benedict’s act already institutionalized the idea of a “pope emeritus”. He seems to acknowledge that some theologians may disagree with that and that ultimately only history will really know. It’s not something I’m particularly concerned with. As Francis said, not so long ago, the idea of bishops retiring was also unknown. But now it is the norm. It wouldn’t seem that odd to me for the same to occur with the papal office.

 

[Tigg]

I’m not a Catholic, but I’d like to know if papal resignations were to be the norm, how would it affect you and your view of the Church?

When BXVI resigned, it fairly rocked the Church, after all that hadn’t been done in 600 years. Speculation and predictions of prophecy ensued (John Lazarus, you are a funny man! Thanks for your post.) Typically and traditionally, the pontiff reigns until death, especially if only suffering the normal affects of aging and no doubt about it, the resignation, done through his discretion, did ***unsettle ***the Catholic world. Of course, we got over it and ignored the rumors and accepted that the Church will always be led through the guidance of the HS.

But in this current age, I happen to be one of the ones who believe the Church is truly in a crisis due to apostasy and in some quarters, a weakening of hierarchical leadership. Our numbers are shrinking and Catholics no longer know what their faith teaches, nor do they believe. All in all, we are in a rather precarious condition as we know from the warnings coming from church leaders. How much more so would the faithful be if the Vicar of Christ, whom they keep their eyes upon, was someone different every few years steering the ship? I guess the solution could be that they start electing younger and younger popes so the disturbance could be minimized.

 

[RosslynV]

We could easily have three popes simultaneously. Should Francis resign, I’m sure Benedict will still be alive, then with the new one we have three! Could be a mess!

 

[HelenRose]

I’m not a Catholic, but I’d like to know if papal resignations were to be the norm, how would it affect you and your view of the Church?

I would not be bothered by it.

The duties of the Pope requires great stamina. He has to face daily the stupid questions asked by the media who are waiting for a slip up. He has to travel extensively. He needs to be aware of what is going on within the Vatican and he has under his care more than a billion souls.

Pope Benedict knew that physically he was not capable of the duties demanded of him and I am sure that if or when Pope Francis knows the same thing he will retire.

Saint Pope John Paul II had a message to give the Church. It was a message of suffering but this may not be the message other popes will have for the Church.

Pope Benedict has given the Church a great gift with his retirement. He has paved the way for the men who will follow him. Each Pope, following the Holy Spirit, will make their own decision when the time comes.

 

[HelenRose]

We could easily have three popes simultaneously. Should Francis resign, I’m sure Benedict will still be alive, then with the new one we have three! Could be a mess!

It would be a greater mess to have a Pope, knowing that he was physically unable to serve, turn the affairs of the Church back over to the Vatican hierarchy to run things as they see fit.