Posted on 07/22/2014 6:28:47 AM PDT by marshmallow
That Pope Francis is very attentive to the dialogue with non-believers is clear from his most recent conversation with Eugenio Scalfari, the founder of the Italian leftist newspaper “La Repubblica”. Scalfari, a self-proclaimed atheist, who even wrote a book entitled “Me and God”, on his being a non-believer. The conversation published by “La Repubblica” on July 16 – which was partly downplayed and its content clarified by Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office – also showed that what the secular press think about him is very close to Pope Francis’ heart. This is ultimately the original sin of the cardinals’ general congregation which led to the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the Pope who came from the end of the world.
Among Pope Francis’ inner circle, some of his friends underscore that there is a precise meaning in Pope Francis’ use of his «end of the world» origins from the very day of his election. These words were aimed at revealing Pope Francis’ intention to dismantle the Papacy the way it has been conceived, its image, even its authority. Taking its place would be a lighter way to be Pope, more private, more personal. Perhaps, this is a highly intellectual argument. Too intellectual if applied to Pope Francis, who is used to think practically. Probably, we have all misunderstood Pope Francis.
When he was archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio insisted a lot on the need for the Church to be credible. His decision to be visible in the streets came from a need to show the Church in a good light. In a diocese discredited by the economic scandals he inherited from his predecessor, Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, and in the verge of an economic crisis which was going..........
(Excerpt) Read more at mondayvatican.com ...
The money quote.
The election of the current Pope was based, to a great extent, on concerns over public relations. Weary of the secular journalistic onslaught against the Church, Benedict XVI and the scandals, the overriding concern of the cardinals was the Church's image. How can we make the world love us? The search for popular esteem drove the election of +Francis.
Good article.
Yes, I agree that the cardinals wanted to be loved and felt that electing somebody who seems to be led by every modern trend, from the “environment” to a populist anti-capitalism to a vagueness on sexual morality, was the way to do it. And I hate to say it, but I think more and more that Pope Francis himself wants to be loved by the “right people,” that is, the media and the academic and religious left who control the media, and that’s the reason for stunts like the Scalfari interviews.
I hope he retires when he’s 80, although he has two more years to do more damage to the image of the Church and the faith of the people. The only thing good to come out of it is that I see a lot of resistance among more orthodox Catholics, who are referring more and more to Tradition and less and less to the specific pronouncements (or vague musings!) of the Pope.
How appropriate: “Pope Francis’ Church”
The Holy Father is from Latin America. He is very different in style and temperament then our European Popes. There was a lot of conjecture when JPII came in. The First non-Italian, non-western European Pope.
If anything Pope Francis is just being himself and people are projecting on to him what they want to hear and ascribing motivations to him that may not be so. Not everyone who writes about the Pope or the Church as the authority or knowledge to do so.
I think you are right on the money. When one begins to ascribe motives, one is treading in very dangerous territory.
There is nothing wrong with being efficient, per se. If the goal of a missionary church is to proclaim the Gospel, then somebody has to know how to best use the limited resources available to meet the task.
Funny a few years back we were trying to defend Pope Benedict and had Free Republic been around in 1978 we would have had to defend John Paul II.
The media is going to see what they want to see.
I find it ironic how we distrust the media when it goes after one of our political "sacred cows". But when it's the Pope then it must be true? The same media? I don't trust Reuters, I don't trust NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, The NYT etc. But if they write about the Pope they are all of a sudden pure? Also these bloggers and the like who are these people? There have always been dissenters. Over the years you see that the dissenters and detractors get far more attention then the defenders.
Bump to that.
Pride, it drags down the world. Loving Christ and His Church and knowing that Christ wants the world to be one seems like a good motive but if it comes at the expense of Christ’s teaching it tears down the Kingdom.
I forgot to add: Perverting Christ’s teachings seems to be the only thing that will make the press and the enemies of the Church happy.
IB4TPWMA
Millions of people hated Benedict XVI for the wrong reasons. Now millions of people “love” Francis -— also for the wrong reasons.
The problem is that he’s the Pope, not just a private person whose words might be misunderstood with no harm done.
If everything he says requires “explanation” by what are clearly desperate official sources (probably in communication with more orthodox higher ups), he needs to take a good look at this - and stop doing it.
Style would be one thing. It’s the words that he actually says, not how he says them, that are the problem.
You make a valid point. His words have much more influence now he is Bishop of Rome. He needs to be more vigilant in what he says, as we have seen, there are plenty of people willing to take things out of context, and just plain make stuff up.
I guess its the challenge of being both the Pope, and a very high profile figure. One can assume at least 50% of the people hate you at any given time, even before you open your mouth.
Sooner, rather than later I pray someone prevails upon the Holy Father to be more judicious in what he says. Also stay away from the rags!
It's often very hard for some of the more timid priests to advise superiors. It's not that they are wimps, they just have a kinder heart than I do. :)
Yes, definitely stay away from the rags!
I think, from what I read, that not only do the people around the Pope have the usual fears about advising a superior, but the Pope seems to have a rather go-it-alone style. It’s odd in one who talks so much about “collegiality,” but I guess he feels that it doesn’t have anything to do with his personal style.
Maybe he should try Spanish?
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