Pontiff marks 2 years in office as Catholic Church leader

78-yr-old Pope Francis, today, Friday March 13,  marked the second anniversary of his election as Catholic church leader.

The holy father in celebration of his election anniversary, granted an interview to Mexican TV station where he says he expects his time at the Vatican to only last for another two or three years.

He told Mexico's Televisa channel, "I have a feeling my pontificate will be brief, four or five years, I don't know. Two years have already gone by."

"It is a vague feeling I have that the Lord chose me for a short mission. I am always open to that possibility."

Francis who became the first Latin American Pope, hinted that he may retire soon like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who became the first pope to resign from office in seven centuries when he stepped down in February 2013.

The pontiff said Benedict had "opened an institutional door" but stopped short of repeating previous hints he could also resign, which drew criticism from some conservative theologians.

"The idea of fixing an age limit of 80 is not one I like very much," he said, arguing that it would create ‘lame-duck pontiffs’.

Francis said he visited and spoke by telephone to Benedict, who lives a monastic life in a former convent inside the Vatican.

"He is happy, satisfied and respected by everyone," he said. "He can be asked for advice and he is loyal to the death."

Intriguingly, when asked if he liked being Pope, Francis replies: "I don't not like it," before expanding on his dislike of travelling and his fondness for the comforts and familiarity of home.

Despite that, Francis insisted he did not feel lonely in the job, although he did confess to sometimes longing for the anonymity enjoyed as the parish priest he once was.

One thing he would really like is to be able to go out of the Vatican one day without being recognised and "go and eat a pizza," he said