Dale Price at Dyspeptic Mutterings does the honors:
Nice of AP to publish a papal press release under its corporate byline.
Nicole Winfield covers the Vatican for Associated Press.
Sometimes, she has committed actual journalism. More on that in a second.
Here, she covers for the Vatican in a gooey puff-piece which omits almost every whiff of corruption surrounding the pontiff’s inner circle and assorted pals. There is a nod to the disastrous trial of Cardinal Becciu…but even that deletes references to the pontiff’s involvement in the land deal gone wrong and the prosecution’s Nixonian attempts to cover it up.
And she would know about that…because she wrote the last link immediately above. But that wasn’t worth a mention here? Curious.
Of course, it could be multiplied with all sorts of other problematic issues…starting with selling out China’s Catholics, or Don Mercedes, or lying about the Chilean abuse scandal, or rewarding a guy who lied to his face about sexually harassing seminarians with a Roman sinecure…et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
But no, he’s supposedly gone into “no more Mr. Nice Guy” mode.
Those who have been paying attention have known that since the start. He’s nice to those in his favor.
Still, I have to admit: La Civiltà Cattolica couldn’t have written a better Style! piece.
Go here to comment. Pope Francis is increasingly acting like a man who knows his time is short. The smiling Pope Francis was always a lie. Behind the scenes Pope Francis has a well-earned reputation for being surly and frequent outbursts of bad temper. We have had great popes in the history of the Church with similar failings, hagiography notwithstanding. However this entire papacy has been based upon careful deceptions and misdirections. Hence the frequency of orthodox talk married with unorthodox actions. Now the Pope believes either he does not need to disguise what he is about, or he is in a race against a clock. I think his colon surgery of a few months ago gave him very bad news indeed.
Early prediction.
When this…Pope …has vacated the office and a new Pope has replaced him, there is a very good chance that PopeWatch will have a new header;
The Francis, Do You Miss Me Yet?
Pope Francis might resemble a choir boy when compared to his replacement.
A very pessimistic view I know, but the persecution of Holy Catholic Church has much to endure. She will not fail but she will have an anti-Pope that makes Frank look almost orthodox.
2023 is my guess.
Our, [ the Church Militant] Good Friday march isn’t close to the Crucifixion yet…but once that is accomplished then EASTER Joy forever commences.
Hold Fast
Philip, your pessimistic view is not at all implausible. Equally plausible, however, at least in my little dream world, is a real surprise from the Holy Spirit. In the pattern of Supreme Court justices appointed by Republicans who turn out to be closet lefties, we could see the election of someone the St. Gallen cabal assumes will be Francis on steroids, but who turns out to be a true Vicar of Christ rather than a cheerleader for the globalist secular elite. Only time will tell. In the meantime, your closing admonition is spot on. We must hold fast to the true faith no matter how hard it becomes. God bless all here, as always.
“… but who turns out to be a true Vicar of Christ rather than a cheerleader for the globalist secular elite. Only time will tell. ”
Excellent HOPE Frank.
The workings of the Holy Spirit are much beyond our vision.
The birth pangs have been quickening and something is going to give very soon.
I hope it’s the second advent.
The new heavens and the new earth.
The return of Our King.
Viva Christo Rey!
I would love to be wrong about my earlier comment.
Widespread apostasy in contraception, sodomy and abortion….COVID totalitarians… an eclipse of the Church.
Carpet bombing before the main event.
I don’t think “global warming” is of any concern.
The sins David WS mention ARE the factors relating to global warming.
Not man made CO2’S.
It’s men’s hearts.
You can only go so far mocking, ignoring and blaspheming God, then the back is turned away. His protection ceases. He allows calamity but He didn’t instigate it.
Global warming?
You bet.
Thanks Phil, certainly.. but what I really meant was the clock is running out..
Agreed.
Time is running out.
The main event indeed.