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VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis, joined by the church’s new cardinals at mass on Sunday, has warned of mediocrity and looking for “godfathers” to promote his own career.
Eleven of the 13 new cardinals were seated near the central altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis had handed them the red hats on Saturday symbolizing that they are now the so-called princes of the church.
Two of the new cardinals were unable to make it to Rome due to complications from the travel pandemic. Freshly minted cardinals who came to the Vatican wore protective masks and purple garments, as the Church began the solemn liturgical season of Advent as Christmas approached.
In his homily, François denounced what he called “a dangerous sleep: it is the sleep of mediocrity”. He added that Jesus “hates lukewarmness above all else.”
Being chosen to head Vatican departments or becoming pope themselves could be in the future of one of these new cardinals. Cardinals often advise the popes and choose the next pontiff by confiding among themselves, then meeting in a secret conclave to choose one of their own to lead the Roman Catholic Church and its roughly 1.3 billion grassroots faithful. .
Francis often warned against clericalism during his papacy, and he picked up this theme in Sunday’s homily.
“If we are expected in Heaven, why should we be caught up in earthly concerns? Why should we worry about money, fame, success, all of which will disappear? Said the Pope.
Departing from his prepared text, he added: “Why seek sponsors to promote his career?”
In one of the most shocking illustrations of the dangers of clericalism, earlier this month an internal Vatican report concluded that bishops, cardinals and even popes over the decades have rejected or downplayed reports of sexual misconduct of an American clergyman, Theodore McCarrick.
McCarrick had risen steadily through the ranks, eventually occupying the prestigious post of Archbishop of Washington, DC McCarrick was stripped of his cardinal rank and defrocked in 2019 after an investigation corroborated allegations of sexual abuse against him .
While the internal investigation noted the role of Francis and Benedict XVI, his predecessor in the papacy, in not ending McCarrick’s abuse of his position, much of the blame fell on John Paul II, the reigning pontiff who quickly became a saint after his death in 2005. John Paul appointed McCarrick to the post of Washington and appointed him cardinal after he commissioned an investigation confirming that the American prelate shared his bed with seminarians.
Among those who were elevated to the rank of cardinal on Saturday by Francis was the current Archbishop of Washington, Wilton Gregory, the first African-American cardinal.
In his homily, Francis recommended charity as a means for the Church to remain in mission.
“Some people seem to think that being compassionate, helping and serving others is for the losers,” Francis said, after denouncing the indifference.
“When the Church worships God and serves our neighbor, she does not live at night. Weak and tired as she is, she travels to the Lord.
Francis also prayed that God “will wake us from the sleep of mediocrity; wake us up from the darkness of indifference.
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