Pope Too at Times Wants to Escape from Vatican

Vatican City, Jan 19 (IANS/AKI) Pope Francis himself sometimes wants to escape from the Vatican, his second-in-command, secretary of state Cardinal Pietro Parolin told an Italian TV show.
"Even the Pope has some desire to escape out of the Vatican, I think," Parolin said in Tuesday's interview.

Parolin gave the example of a recent trip Pope Francis made to an optician near Rome's famous Spanish Steps to replace the lenses for his glasses.

Pope Francis's visits outside the Vatican walls are "mostly for work", Parolin said, adding that Francis has always enjoyed "a truly great freedom".

"From what I can see, the Pope seems to be doing very well," he said.

Pope Francis has stated that one of the things he most misses since becoming the Pope is going out for a pizza.