Pope, in new interview, vows to change Vatican mentality

[onehandle]

Source: Reuters



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 be 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.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-interview-vows-change-vatican-mentality-090727424.html

[DonViejo]

1. Even if this Pope cooks/prepares his own meals...

I hope he has a staff of food tasters. I'm not an RC but, I can sure see where this man is going to shake things up, if he's allowed to.

[pipoman]

2. The Church is very careful to install popes who are

in mindmeld with where the church wants to go. I suspect that due to the last several decades of declining membership, declining number of people wishing to become priests, and declining public opinion of the church, they decided it was time for major change..this is like a PR push..I believe the church knows/knew what changes he would usher in..

[DonViejo]

3. From everything I've read, the Church wasn't too careful...

when John XXIII was installed and was even less careful about John Paul 1...the tea served JP1 at bed time took care of his plans to deal with the scandals brewing (and still simmering) at the Vatican Bank

[Ikonoklast]

5. Popes have never been poisoned before, they...oh, wait a minute.

The control over huge wealth, sex scandals at the highest level, stupendous egos, enormous power wielded by those who answer to no one...then piss them all off.


Yep, I'd watch my back.

[Berlum]

4. Repeal the Inter caetera Papal BULL

Nothing will come out right until you do, Pope Francis. It is a totally screwed document -- and has jaundiced the planet with injustice a thousand fold.

http://papalbull.com

[warrant46]

6. Marching out of the Thirteenth Century into the 14th

And these inheritors of christ's teaching are--

expressing the pope's earnest desire that "barbarous nations be subjugated and brought to the faith itself,"

They better look out for 2 Billion Muslims

[starroute]

11. Why are you quoting a papal bull from 1493 that commemorated the discovery of America?

I realize it's never been revoked and that it's still a sore spot -- but citing it as if the current pope had said it seems more than a bit misleading.

[warrant46]

14. Its more than " a sore spot "

With people who aren't christ followers

[gopiscrap]

7. Good

[closeupready]

8. Yeah. Ok. Wake me up when that happens.

[Kelvin Mace]

9. Again, promises are cheap

It is one thing to TALK about poverty and how the rich are exploiting the poor, it another thing to DO something about it.

It is nice that this Pope chooses to live frugally. When I see Bishops and Cardinals cooking their own meals in "humble" apartments, then we will have something to consider.

[theHandpuppet]

10. Right on time.

Our daily Pope thread on LBN. As if some folks never heard of the Religion forum.

[UTUSN]

12. That's today. Tomorrow is the backpeddling. Like, (today: ) we don't need to talk abortion & Gays,

then, the next day, "because the position of the Church is clear." Same about atheists one day, then the next day...

[tavalon]

13. I was so disgusted by pope ratty

I'm confused by this one. He seems surprisingly genuine. Who screwed up at the Vatican? Pope Francis is earning my respect, act by act, small and large.

[Hekate]

15. I really like this guy, but he's going to owe me a new screen after the way I spit my coffee on it

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 be 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.

Zap! That's gonna leave a mark. I wonder how many of those courtiers are fuming too hard to sleep at night.

I wish Pope Francis all the luck in the world -- he's going to need it.