Pope Francis warns of the harm caused to the Church by careerist bishops speaking perverse things
In his homily during Wednesday morning Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel Pope Francis warned of the grave harm caused to the Church by the vanity of careerist bishops who do not protect the flock from ravening wolves.
The Holy Father said:
‘St. Augustine, commenting on the prophet Ezekiel, speaks of two [temptations]: wealth, which can become greed, and vanity. He says, ‘When the bishop, the priest takes advantage of the sheep for himself, the dynamic changes: it is not the priest, the bishop, for the people – but the priest and the bishop who take from the people.’
St. Augustine says, ‘He takes the meat from the sheep to eat [it], he takes advantage; he makes deals and is attached to money; he becomes greedy and even sometimes practices simony. Perhaps he takes advantage of the wool for vanity, in order to vaunt himself.’”
So , the Pope observes, “when a priest, a bishop goes after money, the people do not love him – and that’s a sign. But he ends badly.” St. Paul reminds us that he worked with his hands. “He did not have a bank account, he worked, and when a bishop, a priest goes on the road to vanity, he enters into the spirit of careerism – and this hurts the Church very much – [and] ends up being ridiculous: he boasts, he is pleased to be seen, all powerful – and the people do not like that!”
“Pray for us,” the Pope repeated, “that we might be poor, that we might be humble, meek, in the service of the people.”
Finally, he suggested to the faithful that they read Acts 20:28-30, where Paul says, “Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
“Read this fine passage, and while reading it, pray, pray for us bishops and priests. We have such need in order to stay faithful, to be men who watch over the flock and also over ourselves, who make the vigil their own, that their heart be always turned to [the Lord’s] flock. [Pray] also that the Lord might defend us from temptation, because if we go on the road to riches, if we go on the road to vanity, we become wolves and not shepherds. Pray for this, read this and pray. So be it.”
Protect the Pope comment: Don’t we know too well the truth of this ‘And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.’ Not just speaking perverse things, but allowing others to speak and act perversely. We should pray that Pope Francis’ powerful and true words are backed up by decisive action, because the time for fine words has long gone. The flock is being decimated by ravening wolves who are protected, and promoted by shepherds or by shepherds who turn a blind eye.