Pope Francis admits to having not watched TV since 1990 and never using the internet after making a promise to the Virgin Mary

Pope Francis has claimed that he hasn't watched TV since 1990 after making a promise to the Virgin Mary.

The Pope said that he didn't even watch the matches of his football team San Lorenzo de Almagro back in Buenos Aires, but got a Swiss Guard to update him regularly on match results and league table positions.

In an interview with an Argentinian newspaper he said there was no particular reason for his vow- he simply decided: 'It's not for me.'

The Pope said that he doesn't surf the internet either, and reads only one newspaper for ten minutes in the morning.

Francis who has kept up a whirlwind of work since his election two years ago has previously claimed that he has not had a holiday since 1994.

Francis claimed that he had never dreamed of being pope - nor had he dreamed of being president or an army general.'

Since accepting the role he missed being able to walk in the street- and go for a pizza. 'Take-away is not the same, he said. 'You have to go there.'