On Monday, Pope Francis addressed the Roman Curia—the senior Vatican cardinals, bishops, and priests—and politely laid out everything he thinks they're doing wrong. As reported by Vatican Insider, Francis presented a 15-point "catalog of spiritual diseases" as part of his remarks. We've excerpted some of Francis's points as described by Vatican Insider below. Read the full list of "diseases" here.
"The disease of those who 'turn into masters and feel superior to everyone rather than in the service of all people. It often comes from the pathology of power, the 'Messiah complex' and narcissism."
"The disease of those who 'lose their internal peace, their vivacity and audacity, to hide under papers and become 'procedural machines' instead of men of God."
"The disease of living in a 'state of absolute dependence on their, often imagined, views.' We can see this in those who have 'lost their memory' of their encounter with the Lord, in those who depend on their 'passions, whims and obsessions.'"
"'When the appearance, the color of the vestments and the honors become the first objectives of life ... it leads us to become false men and women, living a false 'mysticism' and false 'quietism.'"
"The disease of those who live 'a double life, a result of the hypocrisy typical of mediocre people and of advancing spiritual emptiness, which degrees or academic titles cannot fill.' It often strikes us that some 'abandon the pastoral service and limit their activities to bureaucracy, losing touch with reality and real people. They thus create their own parallel world, where they set aside all that the others harshly teach' and live a 'hidden' and often 'dissolute' life."
"'It takes hold of a person making them "sowers of discord" (like Satan), and, in many cases, 'cold-blooded murderers' of the reputation of their colleagues and brothers. It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back ... Watch out against the terrorism of gossip!'"
"It is the disease of people who are 'scowling and unfriendly and think that, in order to be serious, they must show a melancholic and strict face and treat others—especially those, whom they think are inferior—with rigidity, harshness and arrogance.' In reality, adds the Pope, 'theatrical strictness and sterile pessimism are often symptoms of fear and insecurity about themselves. The apostle must strive to be a polite, serene, enthusiastic and joyful person...' Francis invites people to be full of humor and self-irony; 'How beneficial a healthy dose of humor can be!'"
"'When the apostle seeks to fill an existential void in his heart by hoarding material possessions, not because of necessity, but only to feel secure.'"
John Hendrickson is the Deputy Editor of Esquire.com, where he oversees the site's 24/7 news operation as well as all politics coverage.
