UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism
Jerry Slevin
1. Pope Francis has taken his unprecedented public relations efforts to new heights on Mexican TV. In front of a large painting prop of Our Lady of Guadalupe, he predicted in an interview that he may retire very soon, or within three years.
2. Retire with so much undone? Pope John XXIII at least called, within barely two months of becoming pope, for an ecumenical council that effected some permanent reforms. He did this as he battled both cancer and entrenched Vatican bureaucrats until 81 years old. Francis has so far mostly just salvaged the Vatican Bank’s profitable operations and protected Vatican cardinals from prosecutors, while also tightening popes’ absolute control over Vatican finances — that seems mostly to be about it. Now he is discussing his exit plans and lowering expectations about permanent reforms. Really?
3. Yet, the heat on the pope may have only barely begun, especially on public outrage over the child abuse scandals in the UK, the Philippines, the USA (Minneapolis), Poland, Australia, Germany and elsewhere. Indeed, an abuse survivor appointed to, and well publicized by the clerics associated with, the pope’s new “go slow” sex abuse commission, has recently indicated his dissatisfaction with the Vatican’s overall approach, which he now has seen up close. Please see, “Leading anti-abuse campaigner offers to take charge of Holy See child protection office” here,
4. The Mexican TV interview was triggered by Francis’ unwarranted and ill advised slur about a purported “Mexicanization” process related to drug violence. Pope Francis is now, it appears, trying to pass the buck on Mexican drug wars to the “devil”. The pope reportedly said, ” … I think the devil is punishing Mexico with great fury, …”.
Please see, reminiscent of the “Exorcist” movie, the almost surreal video clip of Pope Francis in the recent interview blaming “El Diablo”, Mexico is being punished“, here,
5. [Washington Post]
Please see also my recent relevant remarks, “A Mess: Mexico & Electing Bishops & Jeb Bush Too“, here,
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