From "Pope Leo to take two-week holiday in break with ‘pauperism’ of Francis/The pontiff, a keen tennis player, has also ordered a court to be installed in the extensive grounds of a 17th-century villa where he will escape Rome."
Tell me about the "pauperism" of Pope Francis. A question for ChatGPT. Answer: "The 'pauperism' of Pope Francis refers to his radical focus on poverty and simplicity, both personally and theologically. Admirers see this as a prophetic return to the Gospel’s core, while critics worry it may neglect the complexity of economic life or idealize poverty in unhelpful ways."
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41 comments:
The American Pope.
He should be vacationing in Kerr County, Tx.
He needs to bring back that gold chair they've been hiding from the courts.
Leo acting like another Leo.
Leo isn't Francis. Augustinians aren't Jesuits. Francis fancied himself a People's Pope, but like most who purport to represent the People, he wasn't particularly concerned with what actual people think. It's early, but as a lifelong Catholic I am encouraged by what I see.
"...refers to his radical focus on poverty and simplicity, both personally and theologically."
Installing a tennis court "in the extensive grounds of a 17th-century villa" doesn't exactly fit the personal simplicity framing.
Ordered a private Tennis court for himself? OK. always a good look.
I’m waiting for a little Leo Durocher-influence to make itself known.
…can’t help be reminded if a Chicago first lady. It was explained to me by my local little church’s priest the fancy sports car and moped he had were okay for him to have because… He did nit bother to explain his relationship to the good looking single lady that spent a lot of time around the church…like all the time…
For context, many conservative Catholics criticized Francis for diminishing the office of the papacy. While everyone admired Francis's personal humility, the Pope is supposed to be the Vicar of Christ; God's temporary regent on Earth, at least over religious matters. For Francis to demure from the symbols and privileges of the office was too much conflating himself personally with his duties.
The same argument happens in other areas as well. Is art in a church a waste of money or a proper way of giving homage to God? Are elaborate ceremonial vestments a form of vanity or a proper symbol of the mantle of God's authority?
Balance is needed, as in most things.
A change in direction for the Holy See is a good thing, a positive thing in my view. Pope Francis was too aligned with popular political thinking, on a Globalist world stage. I am hoping that Pope Leo is returning to more traditional principles, and hope that his role is one of reform - because it's badly needed. Having a tennis court built for a vacation stay is not a sign of that, incidentally.
"Pope Leo is returning to more traditional principles ..."
You think he's gonna bring back raping the alter boys?
'hope that his role is one of reform' You're not a priest, are you?
It’s cheaper than a conclave. Imma try that one…
I wonder if he would be in favor of part-time jobs in the country? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0C9HKW
Not a Catholic, but I went to a Catholic school K-3 in western KY. While the Pope is playing tennis and swimming in his mountain retreat, I am reflecting on having been smacked in the ass with some enthusiasm by Sister Jean Gabriel wielding a thick hardwood paddle as I bent over holding my ankles in front of the class. I don’t recall the offense, but I’m sure the assault was richly deserved. I was surely a naughty boy.
- Krumhorn
What Mr. D said.
@Krumhorn I’m told some grown men pay good money for that these days.
The Pope is famous as the most humble man in the world.
"...refers to his radical focus on poverty and simplicity, both personally and theologically."
Installing a tennis court "in the extensive grounds of a 17th-century villa" doesn't exactly fit the personal simplicity framing.
The radical focus on poverty was the previous Pope, not the current, tennis-playing Pope.
@Iman -- He might well remember the irascible Leo Durocher, but he's more likely to remember the unflappable Al Lopez. FWIW Lopez had a better record.
I’m told some grown men pay good money for that these days.
I missed that particular kink fork in the road, but Sister Jean Gabriel would certainly be an earner today on OnlyFans. She had technique.
- Krumhorn
“Unhelpful”
Whenever I see this I think of “damning with faint praise”
…a wicked forehand that would put excellent topspin on the tiny balls of a third grade boy.
- Krumhorn
"Critics say..."
Pauper? Look at photos of Francis, never missed a meal.
@tommyesq - Ah. I read through the text too quickly. Thank you for clarifying.
The term I saw for Francis was "performative humility". By not using Castel Gandolfo, he caused a lot of damage to the town.
I've often wondered about how to reconcile wealth with Christianity or Catholicism. And by wealth I don't mean Musk or Bezos or even second-home-on-the-lake-and-flies-first-class. Relative to poverty throughout the world, almost all of us are wealthy in the sense that we have more than we strictly need. And if we do, and there are others that are in need, either in absolute or relative terms, shouldn't we be called to give away the excess? It's the warning about it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven, and while many may feel comfort in the idea that they aren't "a rich man," in fact they probably are. But then we see even the clergy don't necessarily abandon all excess wealth. Some may take a vow of poverty and not possess wealth themselves, but they live within the comfort and support of the orders to which they belong, and surely there is often some amount of excess. And there is obviously wealth in the Vatican and its holdings, and we have this article about the Pope vacationing and indulging in a tennis court. There must be a line somewhere? Some excess is okay, so long as there's a sufficient amount of charity? And certainly of the right kind of charity -- donating to your alma mater is not the same as feeding and housing orphans in South Sudan. Where is the line? How do we find it? We assume there must be some measure of reasonableness, but maybe that's just delusion comforting ourselves that the warning of the camel can't possibly be right, or else we're all damned.
Within the town's boundaries lies the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, which has served as the summer residence and vacation retreat for most popes since 1626.
So Pope Francis was the outlier. This pope is just going back to the norm.
Its the love of money that's the root of all evil, not money. Its hard to see how a Pope is motivated by "Love of money". The Pope and other Clergy aren't in it for the $$, they're basically living off charity.
Besides, people don't want to see the Pope running around in tennis shoes and shirts from the Goodwill. Or living in a tar paper shack with a wood stove eating oatmeal for dinner.
According to current Christian theology, (but against almost all of historical teaching), Jews have path straight to heaven without Jesus Christ, and are our "Religious elders".
So when some Rabbis own Porn websites "becuase its a good investment", that seems to indicate God is OK with getting lots of $$$.
Point taken, Mike Petrik @8:48AM… 😁
I'm no RC, by any means, but I worked extensively (ag development) in the same part of Peru. Walked in the same towns. Enjoyed seafood and relaxtion in the same coastal city.
For me, there's no doubt but that he's the real deal as a follower of Christ, and my faith expression periodically prays for him as the Bishop of Rome.
Jesus's fish live in a number of different ponds.
In a question about the 4th of July, Althouse chose Grok and it tapped into something "sacred".
Today, Althouse switched to ChatGPT.
Could be nothing.
If the pope had a 400m running track installed I would be more impressed.
I like Greg Hlatkey at 9:23AM's term for Frances "performative humility." The internet tells me that "pauperism" means someone so poor that they have to rely on public aid. I'm pretty confident Pope Francis never had to rely on public aid (the homes, furnishings and salary provided by the Church for its shepherds does not count as public aid.)
People frequently mistake humility with material poverty. It is not. Humility is a poverty of pride. Francis's performative humility always seemed calculated to show himself in the best light. Shortly after he became pope, the Vatican website switched from a launch page with little adornment to one that showcased a slide show of Francis pretending to be Jesus - holding a lamb on his shoulders, washing feet, etc. Suddenly, it seemed (to me, anyways) that the whole thing was more about Francis than Christ. He also created a Dicastery for Communication that is essentially the public relations arm of the Vatican, and proceeded to spend more on that than on the Dicastery for Evangelization and most other departments. Its budget now rivals that of the Secretariat of State. (https://www.compactmag.com/article/pope-franciss-managerial-revolution/)
His decision to live in the St. Martha House instead of the papal palace ended up costing the Vatican an additional $227,000 per month by the end of his pontificate, because of the need for additional staffing, security and a lot of remodeling. (https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=65789)
He was the kind of guy who liked to pose as Jesus, but, unlike Jesus, slapped a woman for touching him without permission.
He was the kind of guy who gave good photo-ops and no public rebukes to politicians like Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, who openly promote abortion, even at extremes, but who publicly rebuked JD Vance for challenging him on the subject of open borders and illegal immigration.
IMHO, his objection to the Traditional Latin Mass is less rooted in liturgical concerns than it is in the antagonism of a faction of the movement who considered him the anti-Christ, and said so publicly.
It will take time to know what the leadership of Pope Leo will be like, but so far he seems truly humble, and thoughtful. You can have a nice tennis court and still be a humble person. (And I bet his tennis court will cost far less than one month of Pope Francis's upkeep in his "humble" apartment.) He seems to recognize that Christ is the center of Catholicism, not the pope.
If you got it, flaunt it. A couple of girlfriends might be good, too. Live abundantly.
I echo Mr. D.
if I had to go through my day being super nice to everyone, I'd want some downtime to recharge.
I was hoping for a pickleball court.
I found pope Francis’ ostentatious humility off putting. Leo is simply abiding by the traditions of the office, not indulging his own preferences. A more authentic humility.
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