After mortality talk, Pope hints at retirement

Pope Francis speaks of anguish as 3 relatives die in Argentina car crash

Rome: Two great-nephews and their mother were killed on Córdoba-Rosario highway, while nephew Emanuel Bergogolio is in critical condition.

Pope Francis has been deeply pained by the deaths of three relatives killed when their car collided with a grain truck in central Argentina, just hours after musing that he himself may only have "two or three years" left and might even retire like his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI. A nephew of the pope, Emanuel Bergoglio, who was driving the car, was in serious condition after the accident just after midnight on Monday. The nephew's wife, Valeria Carmona, and two children, Jose, aged two, and Antonio, 8 months, died.

"The pope has been informed and is deeply grieved by the tragic news. He asks all those who share his pain to join with him in prayer," said a statement on the website of Radio Vaticana. News of the accident came soon after Francis, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires, returned to the Vatican from a five-day visit to South Korea, his first to Asia since becoming pontiff last year.

On the flight home from Seoul, just hours before his relatives' fatal crash, the pope appeared to make a light-hearted reference to his own mortality.

Asked about his global popularity, the 77-year-old said: "I see it as the generosity of the people of God. I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know it will last only a short time. Two or three years and then I'll be off to the Father's House," he replied, smiling. During the press conference on the plane, Francis also mentioned the possibility of retiring from the papacy, as his predecessor Benedict XVI did last year, if he felt he could no longer adequately perform his duties.

Resigning the papacy was a possibility "even if it does not appeal to some theologians", he told reporters. He added that 60 years ago it was practically unheard of for Catholic bishops to retire, but nowadays it was common.

Fueling the retirement talk are concerns about the pope's health.

When Francis abruptly cancelled a string of masses without explanation, many papal observers wondered whether his hectic lifestyle was taking a toll on the 77-year-old.

Several veteran Vatican correspondents have cited unnamed sources close to the pope who say Francis has been having trouble breathing and has gained some weight since taking office.

The Vatican has downplayed the concerns, noting it's very normal for a pope to need rest.