Pope Francis questioned the reality of hell, said that he has no intention of retiring, and spoke about his future travel plans in a new broadcast interview.
Speaking to an Italian TV audience on January 14, the Pope said: “What I’m about to say is not a dogma of the faith but something I hold personally. I like to think that hell is empty. I hope it is.”
On retirement, the Pontiff said “it’s neither a thought nor a concern nor even a desire.”
On negative reactions of Fiducia Supplicans, he suggested that critics do not understand the document, and “arrive at ugly conclusions” rather than “carrying forward a fraternal discussion.”
Regarding future travel plans, the Pope said that he hopes to visit Polynesia in August of this year. He mentioned a possibility that he could travel to his native Argentina in the fall. Pope Francis has not visited his homeland since his election to the papacy.