He is regarded as having packed the College of Cardinals with men with his own political pedigree to ensure that the next head of the Church would be a leftist like him.

As he suffers from double pneumonia, acute respiratory difficulties, and partial kidney failure, choosing a successor is a task that may have to be faced soon.

Out of 138 Cardinals eligible to vote for the next Pope – under the age of 80 – no less than 110 were appointed by Pope Francis – about 80 percent.