Pope Francis knows that when he was hospitalized "some were thinking about the conclave" of cardinals to succeed him,
more than about his recovery
, as he states in his autobiography, "Life. My story in History", of which the Corriere della Sera publishes extracts this Thursday for the world premiere.
When he was hospitalized, "some were more interested in politics, in campaigning, almost thinking about a new conclave. Don't worry, it's human, there's no reason to be scandalized!" Francisco maintains in the book.
"When the Pope is in the hospital
there are many thoughts,
and there are also those who speculate for their own benefit or to appear in the newspapers," he explains.
However, he reaffirms that he never thought about resigning.
"I believe that the Petrine ministry is
ad vitam
and that is why I do not see conditions for a resignation.
Things would change if a serious physical impediment arose
, and in that case I have already signed the letter with the resignation that is deposited in the Secretary of State. If this were to happen,
I would not call myself Pope Emeritus,
but simply
Bishop Emeritus of Rome
, and I would move to Santa María Maggiore to once again be a confessor and bring communion to the sick."
The covid
He also remembers that he acted quickly to avoid contracting covid.
"I believe that the Petrine ministry is ad vitam," says the Pope.
Photo: Reuters
"When the first vaccine arrived at the Vatican, I signed up immediately and then I also gave myself the booster doses and, thank God,
I never got infected
," he maintains.
The Pontiff speaks of his
Italian origins
("Piedmontese was my first mother tongue") and his youth in parallel to the great events of history, such as the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki: "The
use of atomic energy for war is a crime against man
, against his dignity and against any possibility of a future in our common home," he attacks.
Francis also says that as a Jesuit he would have liked
to be a missionary in Japan
, but that he was not authorized due to his health conditions: "If they had sent me to that land on a mission, my life would have taken a different path and perhaps one in the Vatican It would have been better than now," he provokes.
His youthful loves
The Pope also
reviews his youthful loves
, the coup d'état in Argentina ("it was a generational genocide") and the accusations against him ("they were "the revenge of some sinister"), his exile in Córdoba as punishment, his relationship with Ratzinger and the days of the 2013 conclave.
Finally,
it defines abortionists as "hired killers"
, while opening up "legal coverage" for homosexual couples who "live the gift of love."
And he talks about the promise he made in 1990 to never watch television again.
Developing
With information from ANSA