During the current Pontificate, PopeWatch has found comfort in this passage on the entry under Alexander VI at New Advent:
An impartial appreciation of the career of this extraordinary person must at once distinguish between the man and the office. “An imperfect setting”, says Dr. Pastor (op. cit., III, 475), “does not affect the intrinsic worth of the jewel, nor does the golden coin lose its value when it passes through impure hands. In so far as the priest is a public officer of a holy Church, a blameless life is expected from him, both because he is by his office the model of virtue to whom the laity look up, and because his life, when virtuous, inspires in onlookers respect for the society of which he is an ornament. But the treasures of the Church, her Divine character, her holiness, Divine revelation, the grace of God, spiritual authority, it is well known, are not dependent on the moral character of the agents and officers of the Church. The foremost of her priests cannot diminish by an iota the intrinsic value of the spiritual treasures confided to him.” There have been at all times wicked men in the ecclesiastical ranks. Our Lord foretold, as one of its severest trials, the presence in His Church not only of false brethren, but of rulers who would offend, by various forms of selfishness, both the children of the household and “those who are without”. Similarly, He compared His beloved spouse, the Church, to a threshing floor, on which fall both chaff and grain until the time of separation.
Go here to read the entire entry.
Excellent point. But in the case of Pope Francis truckloads of faith and patience are required.
Keeping at prayer for him has been a worth while exercise. Unseen and hidden are the workings I trust will take place. Realized effects are the increased peace I behold from praying hard for him. Him being Pope Francis.
Again…take what is good and leave the rest.
In God’s mercy he was given the opportunity, which he took, to confess sacramentally before he died. We should all pray that we be able to die in a state of grace. And be glad for those people who live horrible lives but repent and trust God’s love at the end. Maybe this poor pope can pray for us, the whole range of Catholics and Christians who are here and now in moral jeopardy.
As he relates to our current pope, I didn’t get any indication in the article that Alexander VI threatened the understanding of Catholic teaching??
My analogy on this is to never judge the quality of a Rolls Royce by an erratic driver.
Good stuff!