Pope Francis Tells Reporters: ‘Another Two Or Three Years, And God Will Take Me’

nquisitr
August 19, 2014

http://www.inquisitr.com/1420433/pope-francis-tells-reporters-another-two-or-three-years-and-god-will-take-me/

Pope Francis greets Pope Benedict after Benedict’s retirement.

Pope Francis made a shocking revelation on Monday, as reported by Newsmax, claiming that he only has “two or three years” to live.

The 77-year-old Pontiff apparently shared the shocking news with reporters during his flight back from South Korea and seemed to be in good spirits about the whole thing. When he was asked about the global popularity he enjoys he responded:

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. Two or three years and then I’ll be off to the Father’s House.

The Pope added that he was able to handle the popularity “more naturally” these days even though it was tough at first.

And, even though this is the first time the Pope has spoken out publicly about his apparently ailing health, Vatican officials have said that the Pope had mentioned to them before that he thinks he only has a few years left to live.

The Argentinian Pope also mentioned that he might retire from the Papacy if he feels he can no longer serve the church properly due to his health. As he said to reporters, he would retire: “even if it does not appeal to some theologians.”

Pope Francis didn’t reveal what life-threatening ailment he was suffering from, just that he had: “some nerve problems. Must treat them well, these nerves, give them mate (an Argentine stimulant tea) every day.”

He commented that he feels his nerves are on edge due to the fact he doesn’t vacation regularly: “One of these neuroses, is that I’m too much of a homebody,” he said.

Earlier this year Pope Francis sparked controversy when on a visit to Israel he stopped to pray at a disputed area of land between Jerusalem and Bethlehem which had spray painted on it: “Pope we need to see someone to speak about justice. Bethlehem look like Warsaw ghetto. Free Palestine.”

The Pope’s Papacy has been marked by his “zero-tolerance” policy toward sex abuse in the Catholic Church and his urging of the Vatican to embrace the poor.