Didn’t watch TV for years – Pope talks about his life in autobiography Attack on Volkov: Lithuania wants to better protect exiles

It is rare that a Pope explains so personally and precisely what he thinks and what drives him. In his new autobiography, Pope Francis does not leave out sensitive topics.

From his time in Argentina and the military dictatorship to his election as pope in 2013 to speculation about a possible resignation, the pope wants to tell the story and quash rumors. He still has a lot to do and a number of projects to realize, the 87-year-old writes in the book.

Much of his description can be taken as a signal to his critics inside and outside the Catholic Church. Because the Argentinian does many things differently than his predecessors – and is therefore offensive. He recently made the news with statements about world politics, but also about his poor health. Now he wants to clear up rumors of resignation and preparations of internal opponents for the time after him.

While he had to be admitted to a clinic twice last year – first for pneumonia and later for abdominal surgery – he said that some were already thinking about a new conclave, namely the election of a successor, Francis writes in the book entitled ‘ To live. My Story in History,” to be published by Harper Collins on March 19.

Pope for life

Some people would have preferred to campaign at the time. «But calm down, that’s human nature, no reason to get angry! When the Pope is in the hospital, people naturally worry, and there is always someone who speculates in the media out of self-interest or for money.” But Francis emphasizes:

This would only change if there were serious health damage. In this case, he submitted a signed letter of resignation at the beginning of his pontificate.

He didn’t think about it, because for him the papal office was for life.

Life story and world events

In the autobiography, Franciscus tells his life story in 14 chapters and is based on important world events. In the book, which the Argentinian wrote together with the Italian Vatican journalist Fabio Marchese Ragona, he describes his personal experiences and memories based on groundbreaking events in contemporary history. From the Second World War to the military coup in Argentina in 1976 and the resignation of his predecessor Benedict XVI. Francis talks about his life until the corona pandemic.

The focus is clearly on global political issues such as social inequality, climate crisis, war, nuclear weapons and racism. But based on the historical events, Jorge Bergoglio, the Pope’s real name, includes personal anecdotes. For example, the 1986 World Cup, when his compatriot Diego Maradona scored a goal with the ‘Hand of God’, and Franciscus was in Boppard, Germany, for a German course. But also that he hasn’t watched TV for years.

War makes his heart bleed

Wars and conflicts also concern the Pope in his stories. The Pope has faced criticism, especially given his recent statements on the war in Ukraine. In the book he emphasizes:

As head of the Catholic Church, he is not concerned with military tactics and security strategies, but with the suffering of people who suffer from “imperialist interests or murderous cynicism.” «What debt does the population bear? Why does she have to pay such a high price and even death?” he wonders. These questions made his heart bleed.

No conflict with predecessors

Speculation about an alleged conflict between Francis and his German predecessor Benedict XVI. he tries to refute. After Benedict’s resignation in 2013, he was exploited by unscrupulous people for ideological and political purposes. They did not accept his resignation and underestimated the “dramatic possibility of a rift within the church.”

His internal opponents tried to exploit this controversy. But trench warfare, intrigues and power games within the Vatican institution always bothered him. The splendor of the palaces in the Vatican also made him feel uneasy. It is true that the Vatican is the last absolute monarchy in Europe. But this must be overcome urgently, even if there are those who want to delay reforms and prefer to remain in the time of a Pope-King, Francis said. But he never wanted to be that person. (saw/sda/dpa)