Pope Francis says he’s better and won’t resign, but planning to be buried outside Vatican’s walls

Pope Francis says his health is improving and he does not intend to resign, even as he is making plans for his funeral.

The pontiff, who turns 87 on Sunday, battled flu and a respiratory infection in late November. He is rethinking upcoming overseas travel, although he hopes to visit his homeland of Argentina next year, as well as Belgium and Polynesia.

“I feel well, I feel better,” Francis told Mexico’s N+ digital news service, according to a report by the official Vatican News agency. “I need you to pray for my health,” saying, “old age does not come by itself … it does not make itself up, it presents itself as it is.”

During his recent illness, doctors ordered him to skip an appearance at the United Nations climate conference in Dubai in early December. He canceled at least one day of audiences and also had others read his addresses for him at events.

Advancing age and medical issues have prompted a rethink of papal travels, the pope conceded.

“All trips are now being reconsidered,” Francis said. “Those furthest away are reconsidered. There are limits, aren’t there? The limit that makes you realize that everything here ends and something else begins. Old age makes you mature a lot, it’s beautiful.”

The pope outlined his funeral and burial plans, acknowledging that God could call him at any time. He said he wants to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, not the Vatican’s crypts. Five other popes have been interred at the church, a personal favorite of Francis from his pre-papacy days.

The pontiff said he also has worked with the papal master of ceremonies to revise the funeral rites: “We simplified them a lot,” he said.

The online Catholic magazine Crux noted that five popes — Pius V, Sixtus V, Clement XIII, Paul V and Clement IX — are interred in that basilica. The website said it was ironic that Francis will be laid to rest in proximity of Pius V, who issued a decree in 1570 calling for priests “now and forever” to celebrate Mass according to the Roman Missal, or Latin Mass. Francis has issued “broad restrictions” on the version, the publication reported.