Pope Francis Hasn’t Watched TV In 25 Years
The pope said in an interview that he gave up television in 1990 after making a promise to the Virgin Mary.
ANDREAS SOLARO / Getty Images
Pope Francis, speaking to Argentinian newspaper La Voz Del Pueblo, said that television “is not for me.”
The pope remembers exactly when he gave up television: July 15, 1990. He gave no specific reason, but did say the sacrifice was part of a promise he made to the Virgin Mary. Instead, he spends no more than 10 minutes a day thumbing through La Repubblica newspaper.
That means the lifelong San Lorenzo fan can’t watch the soccer matches – he relies on a Swiss Guard to gives him weekly updates on the team. The Buenos Aires team said in September 2014 it’s naming its new stadium after Pope Francis.
Though he may not miss television, the pope told the newspaper that since making the move to Vatican City there are a couple of things he does miss: taking a walk outside and going out for a good pizza. Sadly, he said, delivery is just not the same as sitting in the restaurant and getting a fresh pie. Another thing he misses is the peacefulness of taking a stroll outside. When he was a Cardinal, he walked everywhere, took buses and the subway.
In the end the pope said he’d like to be remembered as a “good guy.”
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