An Argentine archbishop has claimed Pope
Francis jokingly told him he chose to live in a simple Vatican residence
to avoid getting robbed in the more regal papal palace. Mario Poli, who replaced the Pope as archbishop of Buenos Aires, has twice met the leader of the Catholic Church since he was installed in March, according to a story posted on the website of the Catholic news agency of Argentina AICA.
"Just to gossip with him a bit we said, 'Aren't you going to live in the papal palace?' and he told us ironically, 'There? So they can rob me? No!'," Archbishop Poli was quoted as saying in a speech to the faithful on Saturday. The comments were reported by local newspapers on Wednesday.
Archbishop Poli said the Pope used the Argentine slang term "afanar," which means to steal.
Since his election on March 13, Pope Francis has opted to live in a small suite in a busy guest house instead of the opulent papal apartments where he would be surrounded by the offices of the curia, the Vatican's central administration.
Archbishop Poli said the Pope enjoying his role as the head of the Church and has traded the sullen "funeral face" he used to wear in Argentina for gracious smiles.
"The Pope is very happy.... He says it's very entertaining being Pope.
Yes, there are problems, as in all families, but there are many people
helping him."