Who am I to judge a pope’s humility and desire to dumb down the patrimony of the papal office?
But, but, but, I think most of us and some of us said it, that there was nothing humble about Pope Francis’ paying his own bill after elected pope, carrying his own bags, abandonment of papal trappings and residence. It was for show. It was vain. It was self-promotion. It was all about how much better he was than Pope Benedict XVI and his circus and much better than any other pope, especially the small Fiat he used, sometimes a Ford Focus, like my Italian mom had.
Early on, on one of his papal trips, I saw Pope Francis crank down the window of the car he was in and used exaggerated arm motions doing so to point out that his small car did not have electric windows, but rather a devise to mechanically roll it down by arm! Now that’s humble, no?
It was conspicuous humility which is not humility but born of pride and settling scores.
How many saw through all of this but never said a word or denied seeing or feeling it, like Joe Biden’s White House?
It use to be an irony to ask the question “Is the pope Catholic?” During the papacy of Pope Francis it was earnestly asked and with great anxiety.
This is how artificial intelligence describes “faux humility”:
Faux humility, also known as false humility, is a deceptive form of pride where someone outwardly presents themselves as humble while secretly holding onto pride or a sense of self-importance. It's a tactic used to gain attention or subtly brag, often through self-deprecating comments or deflecting praise, according to Psychology Today.
Fr. Raymond J. De Souza hits the nail on the head in a recent commentary. This is what he writes about this photo:
The four cardinals who announced the death of Pope Francis were dressed in suits, appearing as an assemblage of inadequately liveried undertakers!"
Press the title for his full article: May we have a truly humble next pope who embraces the trappings of the papacy and restores the office even though it might not be his cup of tea. That’s true humility!
17 comments:
Humble also means dodging the glare of attention whenever possible, whereas Bergoglio thrived upon it....the most publically yakkety pope of all time, punctuating his verbal diarrea with crude "witticisms" to demonstrate his "I'm just a regular guy like you past all the super powers", and who listened keenly for any rumor and acted on them, rather them true or not, destroying careers and leaving the destroyed mystified as to why suddenly they were out.
He was a gossip and attention hound and ****-stirrer and why his superiors essentially exiled him, his every act of humility accompanied by the blare of trumpets in the marketplace and streets of camera lights.
It might be in the Scriptures, when one fasts, do so quietly and privately...don't let everyone know you are fasting.
The same applies here, I would think. Demonstrations, a global yet humble funeral, a prominent yet simple tomb that wasn't simple to build. I watched an interview with a priest who prays for the late pope's soul, but is honestly relieved this and all the ambiguity is over.
Let us hope and pray private and prayerful humility prevails during next week's conclave.
Bob and ByzRus,
Great observations about “Look at Me, I am Humble!”
You could tell how much he loved the poor by how full his nightly table was with the poor of Rome, he served them their food, cleared the table for them, and even washed the dishes....if there were cameras nearby.
Time to move on, methinks. That humility which was, is gone. Our prayer is that it does not return or if it does let it be true humility. A humility that lays aside personal ideas in favour of doing and dressing properly.
The pope was obviously struggling with something and i think he tried to demonstrate the proper persona. But he seemed to have closed his mind on somethings and to be concerned about alliances. But he is dead and I sincerely prayed for mercy for him in whatever ways it was needed and I am comforted that he receives Mercy. But he is not gone and we should not waste time or Grace concerned with a reckoning of him that is not our charter. Rather we must devote our efforts to frustrating the mechanisms he left behind or that controlled him during his reign that still presume to correct the Holy Spirit or pretend to revise the Word of God.
Fr. David Evans.
Agree. Sage advice. However, that might be a tall order given the chaotic feelings shared by many so soon after the late pope's passing; and, really, the cardinal electors should be the recipients of this message. I just wonder if many are capable of separating loyalty to an idea/ideology from the good of the Church / the needs of the faithful souls in their charge. Time will tell.
rcg.
Well said!
It is extraordinary that in death so much is being said that no one said out loud. Both the progressive and conservative press are indicating this. There is no way to ignore that Pope Francis has been an extremely polarizing pope. Those who love him the most are those who dislike Catholicism the most and, like him, want a different Church, not the Church Christ gave us. But the thing is that even a different church would not bring them back. Those who love the Church as it was prior to Vatican II and even the post Vatican II Church of Pope Benedict XVI have suffered the most and been alienated the most. But they, for the most part, remain steadfast.
Agree, Fr. AJM. Too much baggage to simply shake off and move on.
The German Church, for example, is about rogue. How unity is achieved there is about impossible to contemplate.
To me, the average Catholic just wants to be Catholic and participate in something beautiful and enriching on Sundays. I'll lump the long-suffering devotees of the TLM in with average, because at the end of the day, they just want the same thing and to live quiet, Catholic lives.
Father McDonald,
Very touching what you have written and quite on point. I have come to the sad conclusion, with very few exceptions, our hierarchy are a pack of cowardly lackeys, time servers and not really men in the fullest sense of the word. But yet, when I encounter most young priests, I have hope for the future of Holy Mother Church. God bless you!
Agree.
There's a disconnect between the hierarchy, their priests and laity that was allowed to happen. A rebuild is in order.
I appreciate that at least there are two things that Father Raymond J. de Souza has noted correctly in regard to Pope Francis:— both of which shatter the following lies that certain Pope Francis haters have long promoted.
1. More than a few Pope Francis haters have long claimed that "His Humbleness," to exaggerate his humility, had pretended that the Papal Apartment in the Apostolic Palace was far too luxurious for his taste.
However, as Father de Souza declared: "The reputed luxury of the Apostolic Palace (which it really is not, as Pope Francis himself acknowledged)..."
Pope Francis, from a 2013 A.D. interview: "The papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace is not luxurious. It is old, tastefully decorated and large, but not luxurious."
2. The reason, as Father de Souza noted correctly, that Pope Francis opted to live in the guest house as he (Pope Francis) had expressed the need to live around people.
Pope Francis, 2013 A.D: "People can come only in dribs and drabs, and I cannot live without people. I need to live my life with others."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
In regard to the supposed strong criticisms that the CThe overwhelming majority of Cardinals who are in Rome have expressed love and respect for Pope Francis, according to reports that I have read.
During yesterday's World Over Live, longtime Pope Francis critic Raymond Arroyo had made it clear that based upon his sources, even limited expressions of concerns about Pope Francis had not been popular among te majority of Cardinals in Rome.
For example, Mister Arroyo declared that Cardinals Zen, Sarah, and Burke, had "voiced some concern about the Francis legacy, but I'm told that they were not warmly received by the overall congregation."
In regard to my post at 7:05 P.M, my point in regard to the initial, garbled, sentence:
The supposed strong criticisms that certain Cardinals have expressed confidently as the "tyrant" is gone: Reports from Rome have countered that claim.
Again, via yesterday's World Over Live, even Raymond Arroyo acknowledged that his sources had noted that overall, the Cardinals have not been on board with those amongst them who "voiced some concern about the Francis legacy."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
MT Suit,
You obviously can’t read the room, including Father McDonald. Seek professional help
Well said. I read somewhere that it cost 2 million $ to equip the Casa Maria for needed security for him to live there. Would have cost 000 to live in the Vat.
AND all the trappings of the office, the heavy vestments, the ourtre are to humble the man. To declare that the office is much much bigger than the man.
What Holy man destroys the careers of good men because they dare to speak against his radical agenda?
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