Francis at 87

 Many of the news stories have been headlining this with something like the Pope plans not to be buried in the Vatican.  There is much humor and some truth in those titles since much of the time since he became Pope, Francis has fought against being buried by the Vatican bureaucracy.

However, Saint Mary Major, the Lateran Basilica (the Cathedral Church), and Saint Paul Outside the Walls are all extra-territorial parts of the Vatican City State. 

Pope Plans to be Buried in Saint Mary Major

Pope Francis says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica of St. Mary Major, not in the grottoes of the Vatican like other popes, so he can be near his favorite icon of the Madonna.

Francis, who turns 87 on Dec. 17, also said he never thought about resigning this year despite a series of health scares. He said he has a trip confirmed to Belgium next year and visits under consideration to Polynesia and his native Argentina.

"It is true that all journeys are now rethought," Francis told N+ of Mexican broadcaster Televisa. "If they're close by, they can be done. If they're farther away they are rethought. There are limits."

It was Francis' first interview since his latest bout of acute bronchitis, which forced the cancellation of a trip this month to Dubai to participate in the U.N. climate conference.

I don't think it was an accident that this interview was given to a Mexican broadcaster right before the celebration of Our Lady of Guadlupe

Pope: Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds us to welcome virtues 

In his homily for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis focused on the miraculous image preserved on the tilma, or cloak, of St Juan Diego, to whom Our Lady appeared.

“It is the image of the first disciple, of the mother of all believers, of the Church herself,” the Pope said, “which is imprinted in the humility of what we are and what we have, which is not worth much, but which will be something great in the eyes of God.”

The Pope went on to reflect on the “small task” Mary gave to Juan Diego, to gather some flowers. “The flowers, in mysticism, signify the virtues that the Lord instils in the heart, they are not our own work,” he explained.

This image on the tilma, he concluded, is a simple message, needing no explanation. “It is a message that protects us from so many social and political ideologies” that often seek to use the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to justify themselves. But, the Pope said, the message of Guadalupe does not tolerate ideologies of any kind. “Only the image, the tilma, the roses,” remain.

Pope Francis probably sees himself, as like the humble Juan Diego who has come "from the ends of the earth" (as he said on the balcony), to enable the Church to see through simple virtues the image of the pregnant Virgin.  One could say that is what synodality is all about. Much of Francis ministry has been giving us simple images and phrases.  

Colleen Dulle has a fine analysis article in America"

Pope Francis is turning 87. Is it time for him to slow down?

He wakes up at 4:30 a.m., prays and celebrates Mass, then holds his morning meetings—usually around five to seven meetings each morning, according to the Holy See’s daily bulletin—followed by a 1 p.m. lunch, a 45-minute siesta, and then private meetings and phone calls until his 8 p.m. dinner and 9 p.m. bedtime.

He also works weekends.

The pope has eschewed the papal vacation home at Castel Gandolfo, repurposing it as a museum. Instead, he spends his summer holidays working in the Vatican, though without his two weekly public audiences and with fewer public meetings. Ordinarily, he spends this time writing as well as reading, listening to music and meeting with friends.

That’s not to mention his international trips—usually about five per year—all of which boast packed schedules like the Dubai trip.

But while his pastoral visits have stayed consistent, his hospital visits have increased.

 But his forward sprint continues to be interrupted by health hurdles that will become more difficult to clear as he grows older. He now faces a choice between slowing down or risk facing some future ailment he cannot fully overcome.

I think we are beginning to see the process whereby Francis discerns whether he can manage the Papacy without many trips abroad. JP2 centered his on Europe in the last few years. B16 decided he could not make long trips anymore, especially to the coming World Youth Day.