It was a common piety in the middle ages to acknowledge (and even amplify) the sinful behavior of the clergy, particular the popes, that all the people should know that the truth of the Catholic Church rests not in the holiness of the man, but in the divine protection of the office. Indeed, from John Crysostum to Dante', it is a great tradition.
The downside of the enormous popularity of John Paul II and Benedict XVI is that, although their piety is s much-needed example in the wicked world of today, the popular expectation has become that popes should be holy.
It was a common piety in the middle ages to acknowledge (and even amplify) the sinful behavior of the clergy, particular the popes, that all the people should know that the truth of the Catholic Church rests not in the holiness of the man, but in the divine protection of the office. Indeed, from John Crysostum to Dante',it is a great tradition.
Yeah, especially for the sinful clergy.
Matt 7:15"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20"So then, you will know them by their fruits.