In
an interview Pope Francis granted to the Mexican broadcaster Televisa on the second anniversary of
his unexpected election, Pope Francis said his time as the head of the Roman
Catholic Church will be brief. Pope Francis said he misses the relative
anonymity he had as a bishop. As NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports, "He also
said he doesn't mind being pope, but would like to go out in Rome unrecognized,
for a pizza." Pope Francis said, “I have a sensation that my pontificate
will be short: four or five years, or two or three.” "'I feel the Lord, the
pope added, “has placed me here for a short time.” Pope Francis also praised
his predecessor's decision to resign as courageous. Pope Benedict's decision,
the pope said, opened the door to popes emeritus. Pope Francis also focused on
one of his favorite themes, denouncing what he called the injustice of wealth,
saying it's a mortal sin to give someone an unjust salary or for the rich to
take advantage of the poor.
Later
in the day, Pope Francis announced a special jubilee year starting in December
to focus the Church on its main priority: mercy. Remembering the week that he
was named pope, Francis said he had packed only a small suitcase for his trip
to the Vatican, and he had already written a homily to deliver on Palm Sunday,
after returning to Argentina. "He was not on any list of eligible
candidates and neither had the thought entered his mind," according to the
Vatican
News agency. " Discussing the idea that he would only remain pope for
a short while, Francis said, "It is a somewhat vague sensation. Maybe it's
like the psychology of the gambler who convinces himself he will lose so he
won't be disappointed, and if he wins, is happy. I do not know."
