Although only beginning his papacy in March of 2013, Pope Francis is already opening up about his potential retirement.

During his plane ride from Seoul, South Korea to Rome, Italy on Aug. 18, Pope Francis held a press conference, where he stated that he does not think he has many more years left in his life. The pope considers this when dealing with his incredible amount of popularity.

"Interiorly, I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, so as not to think that I am somebody," he said, according to America Magazine. "Because I know this will last a short time, two or three years, and then to the house of the Father. And then it's not wise to believe in this. I live it as the presence of the Lord in his people who use the bishop, the pastor of the people, to show many things."

The 77-year-old has not publicly disclosed any major health problems, but according to the Guardian, has said that he has "some nerve problems" that he "must treat ... well."

The pope's predecessor, now known as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, was the first pope to retire in 600 years. Pope Francis said Thursday that he is friends with the pope emeritus and visited him before going to Korea.

"I am not a theologian, but I think that the emeritus pope is not an exception, but after many centuries he is the first emeritus," Pope Francis said of his predecessor's decision. "Let us think about what he said: 'I have got old. I do not have the strength.' It was a beautiful gesture of nobility, of humility and courage."

He added that the idea of the emeritus pope "is already an institution" because at a certain age, one does not "have the capacity to govern well" due to exhaustion.

"I think that Pope Benedict made this gesture of emeritus popes," Pope Francis said. "Some theologian may say this is not right, but I think this way. The centuries will tell us if this so or not. Let's see. But you could say to me, if you at some time felt you could not go forward, I would do the same! ... I would pray, but I would do the same. He [Benedict] opened a door that is institutional, not exceptional."
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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