Pope Francis said a “rigid ideological position” can be an obstacle to progress.
In his annual Christmas address to the cardinals of the Roman Curia, the Pope emphasized the importance of “moving forward, continually seeking and growing in understanding the truth, and overcoming the temptation to stand still.”
“Let us remain vigilant against rigid ideological positions that, often under the guise of good intentions, separate us from reality and hinder further progress,” Pope Francis said during his Dec. 21 address.
A controversial statement
The pope’s speech came days after his “Fiducia Supplicans” declaration allowed priests to give “spontaneous” non-liturgical blessings to same-sex couples and other undocumented couples. The decision received sharp reactions, dividing Catholic bishops around the world.
– Sixty years after the Second Vatican Council, we still debate the division between “progressives” and “conservatives,” but this is not a difference, Francis said.
– The real, fundamental difference is between people with passion and those who have lost that original passion. That is the difference. Only those who love can move forward, he added.
The Pope, who turned 87 on Sunday, confessed that a zealous priest once told him that “it is not easy to light the embers under the ashes of the Church,” adding that this advice “can also help us in our work in the Curia. .”
Change, of course
Pope Francis often used his annual December address in the Vatican’s Beatitudes to candidly present his views on the state of the Roman Curia. In 2014, he identified fifteen mental ‘diseases’ affecting the Curia. He mentioned, among other things, careerism and idolatry of superiors. In 2020, the Pope used the word “crisis” 44 times in his speech and called for the renewal of the Church.
This year, Pope Francis made no mention of corruption or even referenced the historic trial that ended Saturday in which Cardinal Angelo Becciu was found guilty of financial embezzlement.
Source: Do Rzeczy
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
