Google – AFP, 1 Oct 2013
 |
Pope
Francis meets a consistory of cardinals on September 30, 2013
at the Vatican
(Osservatore Romano/AFP)
|
Vatican
City (AFP) - Pope Francis outlined plans for reform of the Church to make it
less "Vatican-centric" on Tuesday as he met with top cardinals tasked
with helping him overhaul the 2,000-year-old institution.
In his
strongest censure of the intrigue-filled Vatican world yet, the Argentine
pontiff condemned "leprosy" in the Vatican and called for a less
hierarchical Church structured "horizontally".
"Leaders
of the Church have often been Narcissuses, gratified and sickeningly excited by
their courtiers. The court is the leprosy of the papacy," Francis said in
an interview with Italian left-wing daily La Repubblica.
The
comments came as the pope, who has become known for his humble style, met with
a group of eight cardinals he has called to advise him on reforming the Vatican
administration and bettering communication with local churches.
Francis has
already taken several significant steps to tackle one of the Vatican's most
high-profile problems: the scandal-plagued bank.
In June he
set up a pontifical commission to analyse the bank and propose ways to reform
it, and on Tuesday it published its accounts for the first time in a new drive
for transparency.
A report in
the Corriere della Sera daily said the bank was shutting 900 accounts as part
of an internal audit, including ones deemed suspicious belonging to diplomats
from the embassies to the Holy See of Indonesia, Iran, Iraq and Syria.
The unique
advisory board of cardinals meeting on Tuesday -- an innovation in Church
government -- is holding closed door talks for three days and is expected to
address a range of problems.
These could
include further financial reform, the role of women in the Church and whether
to soften institutional lines on issues such as the position of divorced Catholics
and homosexuality.
It will
also look at how to strengthen ties between the Vatican and local parishes, and
place more focus on priests and their communities.
The Holy
See "is too Vatican-centric", the pontiff said in the interview.
"It
looks after the interests of the Vatican, which are for the most part, earthly
interests. This Vatican-centric vision neglects the world that surrounds
it," he said.
"I do
not share this vision and will do everything to change it.
"The
Church is -- or must become once more -- a community of the people of God, and
the presbyter priests, vicars and bishops who cure souls are at the service of
God's people," he added.
The eight
cardinals in the group come from Australia, Chile, the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Germany, Honduras, India, Italy and the United States.
"This
is the start of a Church structured just not vertically but horizontally as
well," Francis said.
The
cardinals "are not courtiers but wise men who share my same
feelings," he added.
The
76-year-old said his focus lay on helping the Church engage better with the
modern world -- while also returning to its humble roots.
"We
have to open up to the future," he said, recalling how the 1962-1965
Second Vatican Council, which carried out large-scale reforms to update the
Church.
Those who
drew up the reforms "knew that opening up to modern culture meant
Christian unity and dialogue with non-believers."
"Little
was done to follow up on it. I have the humility and ambition to want to do
it," he added.
The pontiff
recalled his namesake, St Francis of Assisi, who "longed for a poor Church
that looked after others, accepted monetary help and used it to help others
with no thought of itself."
"Eight
hundred years have passed and times have changed, but the ideal of a missionary
and poor Church is still more than valid," he said.
The first
pope from Latin America also revealed that he had briefly thought about turning
down the papal nomination after being elected by his fellow cardinals at an
historic conclave in the Sistine Chapel in March.
"Before
accepting, I asked if I could retire for a few minutes... I felt great
anxiety," he said.
"I
closed my eyes and all thoughts disappeared. Even the one about refusing to
accept the nomination. At some point a great light filled me. It lasted a
moment but for me it seemed a very long time," he said.
Related Articles:
goldenageofgaia.com, Steve Beckow, An Hour with an Angel, September 30, 2013, with Archangel Michael
Pope Francis
Pope Francis
SB: Let’s
turn for a moment to Pope Francis, who has allegedly excommunicated an
Australian priest who was apparently working for the ordination of women. We
don’t really know, and that’s why we’re coming to you.
This move
has reportedly shocked many Catholics who thought that Pope Francis was a
progressive. Can you give us your perspective on the matter, please?
AAM: First
of all, there has not been an excommunication. And it is a matter of timing.
And it is a matter of bringing the women into the priesthood. So this is not
the truthful report.
It is that
simple.
SB: Has
somebody tried to undermine Pope Francis?
AAM: Oh,
yes. There will be many who will try to undermine.
SB: Well,
I’ll be darned!
AAM: But that
will not be permitted. The truth will win out.
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