Francis revealed this in an autobiography published on Tuesday, saying the decision is to “respect a vow I made to the Virgen del Carmen on the night of July 15of that year”.
In excerpts of “Hope: The Autobiography”, Francis said, “That evening I was with my community in Buenos Aires, we were watching the TV, and a sordid scene appeared on the screen, which deeply offended me: I got up and left”, he said.
This also meant that the Pope had not been able to watch matches of his favourite San Lorenzo football team. He, however, said a Swiss Guard brings him match results.
Francis also recounts episodes from growing up in a multicultural neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, including things he would come to regret.
“I remember my sins and I am ashamed… I am a sinner like everyone else”, the 88-year-old leader of the world’s Roman Catholics writes, describing himself as a “mischievous child”.
The pope, who has repeatedly urged sympathy and care for migrants hoping to reach Europe and America, also tells of his own Italian grandparents’ emigration to Argentina in 1929.
Holding only third-class boat tickets for the voyage, his grandmother had to hide her possessions in the lining of her jacket.
“There’s nothing new about it. It’s a story of yesterday as much as one of today”, Francis said
He confirmed that he never dreamt he would become pope. “Never!” He’d intended returning to being a priest, a confessor after his term of office as a bishop in Buenos Aires.
“I had never imagined that the conclave could affect me directly, and in no way could I have thought about a name as pope”, he said.
Francis admitted that he was listed among the ‘papabili’ (possible candidates to succeed John Paul II) in 2005, but said inside that conclave it was clear that Ratzinger was the candidate and he was elected “almost unanimously”. But on the eve of the 2013 conclave, he recalled that he was considered too old, “nobody thought of me”.
He revealed that before the final vote, “I felt much peace” and “I thought ‘if God wants it..’, and so I felt at peace. And while they were counting the votes – it was never ending – I prayed the rosary, tranquilly.” My friend, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, was beside me and, in the vote before the definitive one, he told me, “Don’t worry, this is how the Holy Spirit works.”
About what he missed most as a pope, he said, “Going out for a pizza is one of the small things that I most miss. As a cardinal, I used to love walking the streets and taking the subway… I have always liked walking.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
