Pope demolishes curia

[David Guyatt]

I'm really warming to the new guy:

Pope Francis launches blistering take-down of Vatican bureaucrats and their 'lust for power' in Christmas address



The Holy See's verbal lashing came at his Christmas greeting to the cardinals, bishops and priests of the Curia

LOULLA-MAE ELEFTHERIOU-SMITH


Monday 22 December 2014

Pope Francis has launched a stinging attack on Vatican bureaucrats, denouncing them as "hypocritical" with a "lust for power" and guilty of "careerism and opportunism".

In his annual Christmas greeting to the cardinals, bishops and priests who run the Holy See, Pope Francis listed the 15 biggest "ailments" afflicting those running the Catholic Church for its 1.2 billion members.
Francis, who had not worked in the Italian-dominated Curia before he was elected, said those running the Vatican lived hypocritical double lives that was "typical of mediocre and progressive spiritual emptiness that no academic degree can fill".

Attacking the "terrorism of gossip" that can "kill the reputation of our colleagues and brothers in cold blood" he hit out at the "sickness of those who insatiably try to multiply their powers... to show themselves as being more capable than others".
He continued: those being boastful in which the "colors of one's vestments at the primary objective of life"; people wanting too much materialism in their lives to "feel more secure"; those suffering from an existential schizophrenia that is the "fruit of hypocrisy" in which they lead a double life; and suffering from a spiritual Alzheimer's in which they have "forgotten the Lord" and instead depend on their on their own "passions, whims and manias".
Francis, who is the first Latin American pope, has not shied from complaining about the gossiping, careerism and bureaucratic power intrigues that afflict the Holy See. But as his reform agenda has gathered steam, he seemed even more emboldened to highlight what ails the institution.
The cardinals were not amused. The speech was met with tepid applause, and few were smiling as Francis completed his list of sins.
Francis, who is the first Latin American pope, has not shied from complaining about the gossiping, careerism and bureaucratic power intrigues that afflict the Holy See. But as his reform agenda has gathered steam, he seemed even more emboldened to highlight what ails the institution.
The cardinals were not amused. The speech was met with tepid applause, and few were smiling as Francis listed one by one the 15 "Ailments of the Curia" that he had drawn up, complete with footnotes and Biblical references.
The faithful gather at a papal Mass for the beatification ceremony of Pope Paul VI at the VaticanThe annual Christmas greeting comes at a tense time for the Curia, the central administration of the Holy See. Francis and his nine key cardinal advisers are drawing up plans to revamp the whole bureaucratic structure, merging offices to make them more efficient and responsive.
The Vatican's finances are also in the midst of an overhaul, with Francis' finance czar, Cardinal George Pell, imposing new accounting and budget measures on traditionally independent congregations not used to having their books inspected.

I wonder if he was also thinking of Tony Blair when he made these comments...

[Peter Lemkin]

He had better watch his 'back'.....Popes have been known to die of strange sudden 'illness'.....

[R.K. Locke]

Well, he has at least lasted longer than Albino Luciani...

[Magda Hassan]

I'm really warming to the new guy:

Pope Francis launches blistering take-down of Vatican bureaucrats and their 'lust for power' in Christmas address



The Holy See's verbal lashing came at his Christmas greeting to the cardinals, bishops and priests of the Curia
......

The Vatican's finances are also in the midst of an overhaul, with Francis' finance czar, Cardinal George Pell, imposing new accounting and budget measures on traditionally independent congregations not used to having their books inspected.

I wonder if he was also thinking of Tony Blair when he made these comments...

Ha! Yes, he is one of theirs now. Pronbably Opus Dei and probably hates the new guy.

I'm still finding it hard to see George Pell having a useful role in the church. I'm sure he winced listening to the speech by Francis as he is such an eccelsiastical social climber and careerist paedophile protector and almost everything Francis called out in his Chistmas speech.

He had better watch his 'back'.....Popes have been known to die of strange sudden 'illness'.....

He eats in the Vatican canteen with the workers. A good move under the circumstances. I would think he would be very careful in other ways too.

[Peter Lemkin]

I don't know....he also doesn't use the bullet proof Pope Batmoblie.....and there is always the chance [I'd say likelihood] that there could be another Ali Adja sent by the forces of Gladio - as they are intertwined with the Vatican Bank money laundering and other funny financial practices. I wish him luck cleaning up the stalls in the Vatican - been dirty for a looooong time!