Francis in interview, calls popes of the past "narcissists"

[Dawn Marie]

Pope, in new interview, vows to change Vatican mentality

By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis has promised to do everything in his power to change the Vatican's mentality, saying in an interview published on Tuesday that it was too focused on its own interests.

He also revealed that he had briefly considered not accepting his election as the first non-European pope in 1,300 years when his fellow cardinals chose him in March.

In the long interview with the atheist editor of the left-leaning La Repubblica newspaper, he said too many previous popes in the Church's long history had been "narcissists" who let themselves been flattered by their "courtier" aides.

"The (papal) court is the leprosy of the papacy," said Francis, who has brought a new style of openness, consultation and simplicity to the papacy.

The interview, conducted last week in the pope's spartan residence in a Vatican guest house, appeared as he began a three-day, closed-door meeting with eight cardinals from around the world to help him reform the Vatican's troubled administration, known as the Curia.

There are some "courtiers" among the Curia's administrators, he said, but its main defect is that it is too inward-looking.

"It looks after the interests of the Vatican, which are still, in large part temporal interests. This Vatican-centric vision neglects the world around it and I will do everything to change it," he said.

Francis said the eight cardinals he had chosen to make up his advisory board did not have selfish motives.

"They are not courtiers but wise people who are inspired by my same feelings. This is the start of a Church with an organisation that is not only vertical but also horizontal," he said.

Speaking of his personal faith, Francis said: "A Catholic God does not exist...

"I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Jesus is my master and my pastor, but God, the father ... is the light and the creator. This is my being."

[...]


Source

[michael kelleher]

thanks Dm

[Dawn Marie]

"I have never done this before. I read Pope Francis’ latest La Repubblica interview and immediately recorded a brief audio commentary. See link below.

There are disturbing statements on “proselytism is nonsense”; “follow your conscience”; and towards a more “collegial” and “synodal” Church structure, including Francis’ unqualified accolades to the modernist Cardinal Martini.

Any clear thinking Catholic could see from the beginning that Pope Francis was going to be a modern man of the new orientation, but these latest interviews reveal that he is worse than we thought.

I try to give some observations as well as corrective measures against Francis’ damaging statements. Oremus"!– J. Vennari

SOURCE

 

[Cathleen]

So sad.  St. Francis' feast day is on Friday.  We must pray very hard to him, to all the saints and especially to Our Most Holy Mother on the Holy Father's behalf.  Diabolical disorientation indeed, and only with Heaven's help shall we get through this severe trial.

[Michael]

Now, I ask when is the leadership of the SSPX going to speak out? 

[Dawn Marie]

A week from never :(

Michael said:

Now, I ask when is the leadership of the SSPX going to speak out? 

[Alley]

Hmmmm, I am not so sure that the Mary I pray to (Mother of God) and have devotion to

is the same Mary, Pope Francis prays to. 

[Dawn Marie]

Excellent thoughts by John Vennari.  Right on the mark.

Too bad the Society has lost their way.  The longer they remain silent the more grace they will continue to lose.  Heaven help them.

[Luci Hagarty]

On this feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, I am going to pray to the Holy Father's Guardian Angel and all the Angels for the conversion of the Pope.  "Have mercy on us O Lord, according to Thy great mercy!"

[Alley]

That is a very good idea Luci I will join you. With love!

[Lily Paladin]

From Pope Saint Pius X:

We wish to draw your attention, Venerable Brethren, to this distortion of the Gospel and to the sacred character of Our Lord Jesus Christ, God and man, prevailing within the Sillon and elsewhere. As soon as the social question is being approached, it is the fashion in some quarters to first put aside the divinity of Jesus Christ, and then to mention only His unlimited clemency, His compassion for all human miseries, and His pressing exhortations to the love of our neighbor and to the brotherhood of men. True, Jesus has loved us with an immense, infinite love, and He came on earth to suffer and die so that, gathered around Him in justice and love, motivated by the same sentiments of mutual charity, all men might live in peace and happiness. But for the realization of this temporal and eternal happiness, He has laid down with supreme authority the condition that we must belong to His Flock, that we must accept His doctrine, that we must practice virtue, and that we must accept the teaching and guidance of Peter and his successors. Further, whilst Jesus was kind to sinners and to those who went astray, He did not respect their false ideas, however sincere they might have appeared. He loved them all, but He instructed them in order to convert them and save them. Whilst He called to Himself in order to comfort them, those who toiled and suffered, it was not to preach to them the jealousy of a chimerical equality. Whilst He lifted up the lowly, it was not to instill in them the sentiment of a dignity independent from, and rebellious against, the duty of obedience. Whilst His heart overflowed with gentleness for the souls of good-will, He could also arm Himself with holy indignation against the profaners of the House of God, against the wretched men who scandalized the little ones, against the authorities who crush the people with the weight of heavy burdens without putting out a hand to lift them. He was as strong as he was gentle. He reproved, threatened, chastised, knowing, and teaching us that fear is the beginning of wisdom, and that it is sometimes proper for a man to cut off an offending limb to save his body. Finally, He did not announce for future society the reign of an ideal happiness from which suffering would be banished; but, by His lessons and by His example, He traced the path of the happiness which is possible on earth and of the perfect happiness in heaven: the royal way of the Cross. These are teachings that it would be wrong to apply only to one's personal life in order to win eternal salvation; these are eminently social teachings, and they show in Our Lord Jesus Christ something quite different from an inconsistent and impotent humanitarianism. 

As for you, Venerable Brethren, carry on diligently with the work of the Saviour of men by emulating His gentleness and His strength. Minister to every misery; let no sorrow escape your pastoral solicitude; let no lament find you indifferent. But, on the other hand, preach fearlessly their duties to the powerful and to the lowly; it is your function to form the conscience of the people and of the public authorities. The social question will be much nearer a solution when all those concerned, less demanding as regards their respective rights, shall fulfill their duties more exactingly. (Pope Saint Pius X, Notre Charge Apostolique, August 15, 1910.)

[Dawn Marie]

courtesy of Canterella from ABL forums

[Arthur Amidano]

I agree. I do not want to read anymore of his interviews. They cause me to have sinful thoughts,