Pope, with new cardinals, warns church against mediocrity

Pope Francis, joined by the church’s latest cardinals in Mass on Sunday, warned in opposition to mediocrity in addition to searching for out “godfathers” to advertise one’s personal profession.

Eleven of the 13 new cardinals sat close to the central altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, the place Francis on Saturday had bestowed upon them the crimson hats symbolizing they’re now so-called princes of the church.

Two of the brand new cardinals couldn’t make it to Rome due to pandemic journey problems. The freshly-minted cardinals who did come to the Vatican wore protecting masks and purple vestments, because the Church started the solemn liturgical season of Advent within the run-up to Christmas.

In his homily, Francis decried what he referred to as “a dangerous kind of sleep: it is the slumber of mediocrity.” He added that Jesus “above all else detests lukewarm-ness.”

Being chosen to go Vatican departments or finally changing into pope themselves could possibly be in any of those new cardinals’ future. Cardinals typically advise popes and choose the following pontiff by conferring amongst themselves after which assembly in secret conclave to pick one in all their very own to steer the Roman Catholic Church and its roughly 1.three billion rank-and-file devoted.

Francis has typically warned in opposition to clericalism throughout his papacy, and he picked up on that theme in Sunday’s homily.

“If we are awaited in Heaven, why should we be caught up with earthly concerns? Why should we be anxious about money, fame, success, all of which will fade away?” the pope stated.

Deviating from his ready textual content, he added: “Why look for godfathers for promoting one’s career?”

In one of the crucial surprising illustrations of clericalism’s risks, earlier this month, an inner Vatican report concluded that bishops, cardinals and even popes throughout many years dismissed or downplayed stories of sexual misconduct by a U.S. churchman, Theodore McCarrick.

McCarrick had risen steadily via the ranks of hierarchy, finally holding the celebrated publish of archbishop of Washington, D.C. McCarrick was stripped of his cardinal’s rank and defrocked in 2019 after an investigation substantiated allegations of sexual abuse in opposition to him.

While the in-house fact-finding famous the roles of Francis and Benedict XVI, his predecessor within the papacy, in not stopping McCarrick’s abuse of his place, a lot of the fault was laid on John Paul II, the long-reigning pontiff who was shortly made saint after his demise in 2005. John Paul appointed McCarrick to the Washington publish and made him cardinal regardless of having commissioned an inquiry that confirmed the U.S. prelate shared his mattress with seminarians.

Among these raised to cardinal’s rank on Saturday by Francis was the present archbishop of Washington, Wilton Gregory, the primary African-American cardinal.

Francis in his homily really useful charity as the best way for the Church to remain on mission.

“Some people seem to think that being compassionate, helping and serving others is for losers,” Francis stated, after decrying indifference.

“When the Church worships God and serves our neighbor, it does not live in the night. However weak and weary, she journeys towards the Lord.”

Francis additionally prayed that God “rouse us from the slumber of mediocrity; awaken us from the darkness of indifference.”