Spiritual Alzheimer’s: Pope Francis uses Christmas speech to launch scathing attack on Vatican

[babylonsister]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/12/spiritual-alzheimers-pope-francis-uses-christmas-speech-to-launch-scathing-attack-on-vatican/

Spiritual Alzheimer’s: Pope Francis uses Christmas speech to launch scathing attack on Vatican
22 Dec 2014 at 09:41 ET


Pope Francis lambasted the Vatican’s bureaucracy on Monday, saying some within the Church had a lust for power, were indifferent to others and suffered from “spiritual Alzheimer’s”.

The Argentine used a Christmas speech to cardinals, bishops and priests to list a catalogue of ailments plaguing some at the very top and urging a “cure”.

He said the Vatican was riven with “existential schizophrenia”, “social exhibitionism”, “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and a lust for power, all of which have led to an “orchestra that plays out of tune”.

He warned against greed, egoism and people who think they are ‘immortal’.

It is not the first time the 78-year-old has taken on the scandal-hit, intrigue-filled Curia, and called for them to renounce gossip and act responsibly.

Francis was elected in March last year on a mandate to overhaul the government and put an end to decades of infighting within the powerful but troubled body.

Since then the pontiff has established a series of specialist bodies to tackle corruption and poor management in the Vatican, including the naming of eight cardinals from around the world to advise him on the Curia overhaul.

[BeyondGeography]

1. Heroic

I'm not a fan of the Church, but this Pope is courageous and good for the world.

[Thinkingabout]

2. I am happy to hear Pope Francis is compassionate and kind, our world needs this.

He is a true man of God

[belzabubba333]

3. yea he's a different kind of pope im impressed with him but duers will be along shortly to tell us

why he's a monster.

[nichomachus]

7. Nice pre-emptive strike

Now no one can have a rational discussion about Francis or they will "prove" your ridiculous point. Well done.

[hifiguy]

8. I am an atheist and have been for many years.

But I think that Francis, while he has a long way to go on many issues, is the best thing that has happened to the RC church since John XXIII. The RC church isn't going anywhere, so better that its influence be used in a positive manner. Two more opposite approaches to the office than Francis' and Benny the Rat's could hardly be imagined, and good on Francis.

[Sanity Claws]

4. I hope he has a food taster around

We wouldn't want anything to happen to Pope Francis.

[Cirque du So-What]

5. GMTA

That was my first thought as I read the OP.

[KamaAina]

6. A-yup.

History is strewn with popes who angered the powers-that-be at the Vatican and soon died. A friend who went to a Catholic high school did a term paper that postulated that John Paul I might have been among them.

[Tsiyu]

9. don't know why

but when i read this in the NYT this morning, I started weeping. I can't explain that one bit.

It's a new day for the Catholics, if the Vatican doesn't "arrange" something, because their vast, entrenched corruption is so precious and lucrative to them.

It's good to see a Pope who "gets it."