Aboard the papal plane (AFP) – Pope Francis on Monday publicly broached the prospect of his own death for the first time, giving himself “two or three years” but not ruling out retirement before then.

Talking to reporters on a flight back to the Vatican from South Korea, the 77-year-old pontiff, who seemed in good spirits, was asked about his global popularity, which was evident again during his five-day visit.

“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 light-heartedly.

The Argentine pope said he could handle the popularity “more naturally” these days, though at first it had “scared me a little”.

While the pope has not spoken publicly before about when he might meet his maker, a Vatican source said he had previously told those close to him that he thought he only had a few years left.

Pope 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.

“Benedict XVI opened a door,” he said.

Francis admitted that he had “some nerve problems”, which required treatment.

“Must treat them well, these nerves, give them mate (an Argentine stimulant tea) every day,” he joked.

“One of these neuroses, is that I’m too much of a homebody,” he added, recalling that the last time he’d taken a holiday outside of his native Argentina was “with the Jesuit community in 1975”.

Pope Benedict XVI’s shocking announcement that he would resign made him the first pontiff to do so in almost six centuries, speculations and rumors are swirling as to why the pope has chosen to step down.

According to the Associated Press, the 85-year-old pope cited health concerns as his official reason, but some are already wondering if the sexual abuse scandals that plagued the pope’s tenure may another motivation.

The pope’s eight years in office were rocked by the continuing abuse scandals, notes The Guardian. And “God’s Rottweiler” found himself “all but drowned out, first by a string of controversies that were largely of his own making, and subsequently by the outcry – particularly in Europe – over sexual abuse of young people by Catholic clerics.”

In 2011, victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests accused the pope and several other Vatican officials of crimes against humanity, according to The Guardian. The complaint accused the church leadership of perpetuating a “systematic and widespread” practice of concealing abuse.

Early in February, Cardinal William Levada, a top Vatican official involved in protecting children from abuse, publicly defended Pope Benedict and championed the pope’s record on for instituting reforms, reports CNN.

The timing of Pope Benedict’s resignation, following this public show of support, is suspicious to some, given its proximity to a new HBO documentary, “Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God,” which premiered on Feb. 4.

The film, nominated for a Writers Guild of America award, documents a “decades-old effort to protect and in some instances seemingly aid sexually predatory priests, a conspiracy that the film argues, snakes through every level of the Roman Catholic hierarchy including the current and past popes,” according to the Los Angeles Times.

While it is highly doubtful this speculation will ever be addressed by the Vatican, it is clear that the reign of Pope Benedict XVI is closely linked, in the minds of many, to sexual abuse in the Church.

From Salon’s Natasha Lennard:

…Benedict XVI, formerly Joseph Ratzinger, was a fiercely conservative Catholic leader who failed to challenge a widespread child sex abuse scandal in the church. His papal legacy will include the maintenance of system of impunity for abusers of the church’s most defenseless and innocent members.

A recent article on this blog, could also provide the reason for the short reign of Francis as well.

The alternative is just as ominous. A One Word System!