Pope Francis is seen as a down-to-earth, relatable pontiff. He even has called himself a “callejero” – man of the city.

“When I was cardinal, I loved walking the streets, and taking buses and the underground. I have always been a ‘callejero,’ delighted by the city. I am a citizen in my soul.”

He says misses being able to “go out in the streets” or “going to a pizzeria to eat a good pizza” because delivery “is not the same thing.”

But what he doesn’t miss is? Watching television.

Pope Francis hasn’t watched TV in over 30 years – since July 15th, 1990 to be exact. Why? There’s no profound or deeper meaning, he simply decided it wasn’t for him.

“I have not watched TV since 1990. It’s a promise that I made the Virgin of Carmel on the night of 15 July 1990. I told myself: ‘It’s not for me.'”

He has no exceptions to his rule, even missing soccer matches played by his favorite hometown team San Lorenzo in Buenos Aires.

“I watch nothing. There is a Swiss Guard that every week tells me the results and how we are doing in the league table.”

It remains a mystery why he chose that day to swear off TV for good. Some have speculated it was because one week earlier, West Germany defeated Argentina in the World Cup finals, enough to make any Argentinian soccer fan turn off the TV.

What’s more: he doesn’t surf the web. His official twitter account @Pontifex is managed by the Vatican.

He also (barely) reads the newspaper. He limits himself to only ten minutes a day of reading La Repubblica, an Italian daily newspaper.

Above all, Pope Francis says he wants to be remembered as a ‘good guy.’

“Este era un buen tipo que trató de hacer el bien.”

“This was a good guy who tried to do good.” 

Pray for Pope Francis!

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