Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Francis has spoken candidly for the first time about his death, and said he has not ruled out retiring from the Papacy before then, but confirmed he is fit and well enough to go to Iraq if necessary.

Talking to reporters on a flight back to the Vatican from South Korea, the 77-year-old Holy Father this week said he could easily die within the next ‘two or three years.’ He made the remarks during the journey when he was asked about his global popularity.

“I see it as the generosity of the people of God,” he replied. “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.”

Pope Francis also mentioned the possibility of retiring from the Papacy, as his predecessor Benedict XVI did last year, if he felt he could no longer adequately perform his duties. Saying it was a possibility ‘even if it does not appeal to some theologians.’

He added that 60 years ago it was practically unheard of for Catholic bishops to retire, but nowadays it was common.

“Benedict XVI opened a door,” he said. The Pope also admitted that he had ‘some nerve problems’ which required treatment.

The statement came before news that the Pope has lost three members of his family in a car crash on Tuesday, which left his nephew in a serious condition.

Despite health issues, the Pope said he was willing to travel to Northern Iraq at any time to show solidarity with persecuted Christians there.

“In the end we said, should it be necessary, when we get back from Korea I can go there,” he said. “At this moment it is not the best thing to do, but I am willing.”

Asked about other possible foreign travel, besides officially announced trips to Albania in September and Sri Lanka and the Philippines in January, Pope Francis said he had received invitations to Spain and Japan but that nothing had been decided yet.

The Pope said he would gladly visit China ‘tomorrow,’ even though the Vatican has not had diplomatic relations with Beijing since shortly after China’s 1949 communist revolution. The two sides have struggled over issues of religious freedom, including the Pope’s right to appoint bishops, and Chinese authorities have frequently arrested Catholics who reject government control of the Church.

Asked about the Beatification cause of the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, an outspoken advocate for the poor who was killed in 1980 during his country’s civil war, the Pope said theologians still need to clarify if he was killed because of his Faith.

“For me, Romero is a man of God,” the Pope said. “But the process must go ahead, and God must give his sign. If he wants to do so, he will.”

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—Read the full version of this story in August 22 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.