Pope Francis raises the possibility of resignation soon? Interview posted Friday, 13 Mar 2015

“I have the feeling that my pontificate will be brief: four or five years; I do not know, even two or three. Two have already passed. 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. But I feel that the Lord has placed me here for a short time, and nothing more … But it is a feeling. I always leave the possibility open.”

www.catholicherald.co.uk...

"...even two or three. Two have already passed." Calculated it means opening the possibility pope Francis may resign even this year. If he loses some sort of gambling as he called it (with opposing cardinals probably). It is also important he makes that new interview (pubished) on the anniversary of his election and he recalled details of the conclave not previously mentioned. That is the clearest sign given yet that Francis is not staying for the sake of the staying in office itself, and may leave as easily as he accepted to be pope.
“The only thing I would like is to go out one day, without being recognised, and go to a pizzeria for a pizza.”

a reply to: 2012newstart

What is he bored Or frustrated with his 'job'?

My guess is both.

Who wouldn't be?

Imo, being Pope is one of the grander illusions perp'ed on the world. How can someone with conscience allow themselves to be so aggrandized?

a reply to: 2012newstart

Question is who will replace him? Pope Francis seems more moderate than many Popes throughout the Catholic Church's history.

"But I feel that the Lord has placed me here for a short time, and nothing more … But it is a feeling. I always leave the possibility open.”



The lord Satan?


Tee
Hee

a reply to: 2012newstart
What about "I don't think I will live very long"?
Isn't that a more natural interpretation? He doesn't seem to think that the timing is under his own control.

a reply to: DISRAELI

It is not that his life will end soon, at least not in that interview, he wants to go out to eat pizza. Some days ago he said what if he would be killed. In fact he speaks not for a first time of his possible resignation, and I see there is a thread of August 2014. But this one is fresh one and more determined than ever.

On the question who will replace him? It is hard to answer. Francis was elected after a hard battle between the Romans and the Reformists. If he has to resign for losing the battle for reforms, it would be very sad for this good pope! I'd wish him more boldness, and to reform the election rules as well, to assure his successor will do what he could not do.

Nobody has any control over the 'timing'....

I think he's realized just how completely untenable the position is and he's had enough of it.

Wow, that's a shame, especially with the recent news that the Dalai Lama will be retiring from political life as well.
Those two have my regard and respect - and I'm neither Buddhist nor Catholic - but they speak to the issues that concern me and I agree with what both of them say.

Thanks for posting.

The last Pope is supposed to be pierced by an arrow isn't he?
Maybe he has a feeling of impending doom.
The third 'Secret' of Fatima contains a reference to the 'Holy Father' being shot with bullets and arrows at the ' top of the mountain, on his knees at the foot of the big Cross'.

I'm just throwing stuff out there.

a reply to: starwarsisreal

IMO, the 120 cardinals are not enough representative for a worldwide Church that numbers 1.2 billion people. The representation is not proportional as well. The little fix of making them 140 and to put a cardinal from Tonga hardly makes a big difference for the election of the new pope.

I contemplate two possibilities: the first one, let all catholic bishops (or archbishops) elect the new pope.
The second one, to enlarge the cardinalate institution to reach some more acceptable level of representation. Including by lay people (happened in history) and theoretically it is not forbidden for women as well. Let remember the cardinalate is not a sacrament or ordination, it is established much later and does not date back to the apostles. If it has still a role to play, then let that role be made more acceptable for today's world that is quite different from the world only 50 years ago. Not to speak of the billions people that were never living together on the small planet since the Flood. For example, the ancient Church in Alexandria (Coptic) electing its pope by a synod of clergy and laity together in multiple voting, an finally casting a lot between three worthy candidates. While the Catholic church pretending to be much more open to the world with one of the most secluded ways of succession. Jesus didn't do it in that way.

I don't know whether or not the pope has something in mind about that. But if the current cardinals have to elect another pope in circumstances similar to 2005 and 2013 we wouldn't have much different result. If the determined Jesuit Bergoglio cannot make a breakthrough in the status quo, why should we assume someone else of the 120-140 men will do it instead?

Furthermore, it is well known who could be elected pope: EVERY male who could become bishop, could be elected pope as well. There were examples in history deacons to be elected popes. One may ask what were called St Linus and St Cletus the first two "popes" after Peter. They weren't "cardinals". Perhaps they didn't call themselves bishops as well, I am not sure of that. Perhaps they were bishops in today's meaning of this word. Paul wasn't a bishop. Paul enthroned Linus as the first successor of Peter. One may say, Paul was the first and only cardinal at that time.

The status quo proved it cannot change the system. If pope Francis fails in his reform and resigns, the status quo will fail with him irreparably, within the so set conditions.

If the Holy Roman Church (or SRE in Latin) has a future, the future has to be prepared today by bold actions of pastors who want to see next generations rising after them. Today's church must reach out and choose from the rest of thousands bishops and hundred thousand priests as the next successor of Peter.

The circumstances tomorrow could be nuclear winter for example. How do they imagine surviving of the current hierarchy in the extreme if they fail in common conditions and among abundant financial assets?

Let also remember the esteemed cardinals, that Peter had successors not only in Rome, but also in Antioch (direct line) and Alexandria (thru Mark).

How about self-fulfilment of Malachi and/or fake Fatima-3 for unclear goals to close the SRE (long) before the second coming of Jesus. Will the cardinals prove they actually play the script and go right into that way. We still don't have a Petrus Romanus, or do we.

Hopefully it'll be because the church will be called out for the fraud it is and always has been.

I like what Pope Francis claims to stand for but I can't help but think it's nothing but lip-service. He wouldn't be in that position if he wasn't doing what he's told to do. And no, it's not God telling him to say those things, it's those who are in power.

O yea he is definitely the false prophet wow Charles another post we agree on.. reply to: CharlieSpeirs

I read a statement he made this past week in which he said that he prays that, when he dies, it doesn't hurt too much because he doesn't do well with pain. He said he knows he's a target for assassination and if God allows it he hopes that his death will not be too painful.

I don't have a link to it. I can't remember where I read that.

It sounded to me like he expects that he could be assassinated and perhaps this latest statement is a further reflection upon that belief he has.

a reply to: FlyersFan

Do you think there's the remotest chance that he has had his life threatened, and found about the 'intrigue' (as they used to call it back in the days of English Royals like Elizabeth I and Charles)?

Or, that he's considering 'covert' euthanasia? Or self-poisoning or something????

This worries me.
He was such a ray of hope in this ugly world.

a reply to: 2012newstart

The Catholic Church of Rome is the apostate Church of Satan.

a reply to: OptimusSubprime

And the Catholic Church is the institution that preserved the bible for us to read today. They teach that Jesus died for our sins and that Jesus was God. Isn't that all that is needed to make it to heaven? Belief in Jesus' sacrifice and that he was God in the flesh? Why is Satan saving so many people and speaking truth through the Catholic Church?

a reply to: BuzzyWigs
I have no doubt that there are massive numbers of credible death threats against him on a continuing basis. He has been very brave in being with the people and being accessible. Some nutter out there, who thinks the pope is evil or in the way, could find a way to get him I'm sure.

a reply to: OptimusSubprime

whatever.

Second verse: same as the first.....

WHATEVER

a reply to: FlyersFan

I really hope that doesn't happen. But I don't know much about his 'Swiss Guards' - are they like The Secret Service? (Minus, of course, the hookers and drunken bashing into the gate of the White House).

It will be a HUGE loss to humanity if he goes so quickly - just as big as if the Dalai Lama retires and some 'stupid' person is named the reincarnation just so China can select some puppet.