Ah, understood.
It looks like the author’s intent was to put the pope’s comments in a form that would remind people of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector, but I see how it comes off as passive aggressive.
Sorry, after a short nap I realize how snarky that was. I have three (six, three, and 15 months) that have passed bacterial pneumonia to each other over the last week and a half. I’m sleep deprived, and I was using FR to stay awake. My bad! God bless and merry Christmas!