Pope Francis, 81, has thought about resigning as the leader of the Catholic Church.

In a comment during a morning homily at the Vatican on Tuesday, His Holiness said that he has thought about when it is his time to "take leave" as he reflected on the life of St. Paul.

In the Scriptures, St. Paul left the Church of Ephesus and went to Jerusalem upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Pope reflected that it was a decision that came from the heart and served as an example for every bishop.

"When I read this, I think about myself," the Pope said. "Because I am a bishop and I must take my leave and step down."

The Pope ended his homily with a prayer for all bishops serving the Catholic Church. He said, "May the Lord grant all of us the grace to be able to take our leave and step down in this way (like Paul), with that spirit, with that strength, with that love for Jesus Christ and this faith in the Holy Spirit."

In 2014, the Pope said that he doesn't expect his papacy to be a long one because of his age and his health. He explained that if he is too old and weak to perform his duties, then he is open to stepping down in the same way that his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, did in 2013.

The remarks came as Pope Francis concluded a three-day meeting with 34 Chilean bishops summoned to the Vatican to answer for their handling of the sexual abuse scandals in Latin America. Reports indicated that there could be departures but the Vatican has yet to reveal any specific firing or resignation.

The Vatican television showed Bishop Juan Barros kissing the hand of the pope after the summit ended. He has denied claims that he covered up for his mentor, Father Fernando Karadim, who was found guilty of sexual abuse in 2011 by the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith.