Pope Names New Camerlengo, Hints At His Own Mortality Ahead Of Visit To Philippines

Pope Francis has appointed a new Camerlengo or chamberlain, the Roman Catholic Church official who will be charged with acting as the head of state of Vatican City upon his death or resignation.

The 78-year-old Pope made the appointment even as he hinted anew that his leadership of the Catholic Church may not be for long ahead of his visit to the Philippines and Sri Lanka next month.

Meeting with athletes and officials from the Italian National Olympic Committee on Friday, Pope Francis wished them well in their bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games, but said he would not be around to watch them.

"Dear friends, best wishes for Rome's bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games," he said. "I will not be there. May the Lord bless all of you and your families."

That was not the first time the pope talked about his mortality. Returning from South Korea in August he told reporters that he may have only two or three years left to live. Asked on how he deals with his astonishing global popularity, he replied: "I try to think of my sins, my mistakes, not to become proud. Because I know this will last a short time, two or three years, and then I'll be off to the house of the Father."

Pope Francis has also said that if his health fails, he may follow the path taken by his predecessor Benedict XVI who last year resigned from the papacy, becoming the first pope to voluntarily quit in more than 700 years.

On Saturday, the Pontiff named French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran the new Camerlengo. Tauran, 71, will replace Tarcisio Bertone, the Italian cardinal who retired this month after turning 80, the normal retirement age for cardinals.

Tauran, head of the Vatican's Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, was the cardinal who on March 13, 2013 uttered the famous words "Habemus Papam" from the balcony of St Peter's basilica, telling the world that a new pope had been elected.

Officials said Tauran has been closely collaborating with Pope Francis in cleaning up the Vatican's financial sector, and the Vatican bank in particular.

In case Pope Francis dies or resigns, Tauran as the Camerlengo will run the affairs of the Vatican until a new pope is elected in a secret conclave.

Tauran thus became the person tasked to officially confirm the death of the pope, traditionally by tapping his head three times with a silver hammer and calling out his name. He will then take possession of the pope's Ring of the Fisherman and cut it and all other papal seals with shears.

Next, he will seal off the papal apartments, marking the start of the "Sede Vacante," when the Camerlengo starts preparing the pope's funeral and the subsequent nine days of mourning.

He then starts preparing the Conclave to elect a new Pope.

During the "sede vacante," the Camerlengo cannot make any major decisions and cannot change Church teachings.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has asked to ride an open vehicle when he visits the Philippines next month, the Philippines' Catholic Church disclosed on Tuesday.

Although this would make him more "vulnerable" to people who may want to do him harm, the Pope said he prefers an open vehicle so that he will be more accessible to the people.

The Philippine government announced last month that it is building a custom-built "popemobile" in coordination with Vatican security to protect the Pope from unspecific threats during his January trip to the Philippines, Asia's leading Catholic nation.

Philippine church officials disclosed that the vehicle will be open and "not bulletproof" in accordance with the Pope's wishes.

"It will have no air con, so he will be feeling the tropical heat. If it rains he will get soaked too," said Fr. David Concepcion, a member of a church committee preparing for the papal visit.

"The Holy Father wishes to be accessible. He wants the option to stop and step down onto the street anywhere," Concepcion added.

Pope Francis will arrive in Manila from Sri Lanka on Jan. 15 and spend an entire day on Jan. 17 hearing mass and comforting victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban city and Palo town on the central island of Leyte.