Pope Francis talks about himself in an autobiography entitled “Life. My story in history”.

Excerpts from the Holy Father's book-confession were published today by Corriere della Sera in a world preview.

Numerous topics were discussed starting with his health conditions . Bergoglio, for example, states that when someone is hospitalized , he is «more interested in politics, in campaigning, almost thinking of a new conclave . Don't worry, it's human, there's no need to be shocked! When the Pope is in hospital, a lot of thoughts go on, and there are also those who speculate for their own gain or for profit in the newspapers."

Then Covid : «When the first dose arrived in the Vatican, I booked in immediately and then also did the booster shots and, thank God, I was never infected ».

On the hypothesis of resignation , Francis explains in the book: «I think that the Petrine ministry is ad vitam and therefore I see no conditions for a resignation . Things would change if a serious physical impediment occurred, and in that case I already signed the letter with the resignation at the beginning of the pontificate which is deposited in the Secretariat 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 Maria Maggiore to return to being a confessor and bringing communion to the sick."

The pontiff also talks about his Italian origins ( "Piedmontese was my first mother tongue" ) and his youth in parallel with the great events of history. Starting from the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki: «The use of atomic energy for war purposes is a crime against man, against his dignity and against any possibility of a future in our common home», says Bergoglio.

Francis also says that as a Jesuit he would have liked to be a missionary in Japan , but that he was not allowed to due to his health conditions: «If they had sent me to that mission land, my life would have taken a different path; and maybe someone in the Vatican would have been better than now."

The Pope also retraces his youthful love affairs, the coup in Argentina, his exile in Cordoba as punishment, his relationship with Ratzinger and the days of the 2013 conclave .

Again, in the volume, the Holy Father defines abortionists as "hired killers" , while opening up "legal coverage" for homosexual couples who "live the gift of love".

And there is no shortage of curiosities, such as the vow made in 1990 not to watch television anymore.

(Unioneonline/lf)

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