Pope Francis has said he
is very scared of physical pain and wants God to spare him that
in the event of an assassination attempt.
"I have said to the Lord: take care of me. But if your
will is that I should die or that they do something to me, I ask
you one favour: that they don't hurt me," Francis said in an
interview with an Argentine magazine.
"Because I'm a real scaredy cat when it comes to physical
pain".
The pope was answering a question on possible fanatics out
to get him, speaking to a priest who is a friend of his, Father
Pepe, in an interview with La Carcova News, the magazine of a
Buenos Aires slum.
In the interview, which was republished in Italian
bishops' daily Avvenire, Francis also said elections should be
free from private backers who fund politicians' campaigns.
"We must achieve a free sort of election campaign, not
financed," the Argentine pontiff said.
"Because many interests come into play in the financing of
an election campaign and then they ask you to pay back.
"So the election campaign should be independent from
anyone who may finance it".
The 78-year-old Argentine pontiff added in the interview
given on February 7 at the Vatican that candidates for public
office must be honest and put into practice their election
promises.
"A candidate must present himself to society with a clear,
well thought-out election platform," Francis said.
"They should say if I get elected an MP, or mayor, or
governor, I'll do this because I think this and that's what
should be done.
"They should be honest in presenting their position".
Francis added that he was hopeful of returning to visit
his home country next year.
"All things being equal, (I'll come) in 2016, but nothing
is sure yet because we'll have to fit it in with other trips to
other countries," the pope said.
The head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics added that
one gets a better view of the reality from the peripheries
because if "we go out from the centre and move away from it, we
discover more things".
Since being elected pope two years ago, Francis has
repeatedly said he wanted a "poor" Church and told the clergy to
reach out to those at the margins of society.
He also complained about the hold drugs have on many young
people and blasted the "triumphalism of traffickers".
"There are countries or regions that are totally
controlled by drugs," he added.
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