No slackers need apply: The Catholic Church’s next pope will be asked to “pledge to serve until he dies,” Italian media report.

“For the future, we need to safeguard the freedom of the church from external influences,” an unnamed cardinal told the Italian paper Corriere della Sera.

But the cardinal also noted that it would be impossible to abolish the rule that gives a pope the right to resign.

Former Pope Benedict XVI has been criticized for being the first pope in more than 600 years to step down as the successor to St. Peter.

mgartland@nypost.com