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Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis on Saturday called the newly ordained bishops to fight abuses and reject what he called "clerical" culture that saw a series of abusive scandals. Sex shake the Catholic Church.
"Dear brothers, turn away from clericalism, just say no to abuse, to power, to conscience or to any type, do not forcefully say to all forms of clericalism," said the Argentine pontiff to 74 new bishops.
The group was attending a two-week seminar on how to lead their respective dioceses as the church tried to respond to the pedophile scandals that left the Vatican shaken and that the pope was accused of being part of a group of high level.
The Archbishop of Malta, Bishop Charles Scicluna, whom Francis sent earlier this year to investigate a pedophile scandal in Chile, and Hans Zollner, director of the Rome Center for the Protection of Children, must address bishops during the seminar.
The pope did not directly mention the scandals that threatened to provoke a schism between the conservatives and the progressive wing of the Church, but told the bishops not to succumb to the temptation to to behave like "princes".
"Be poor men in material goods and rich in (human) relationships, never harsh or confrontational but affable, patient, direct and open," said Francis, calling for dedication to the poor and young people in particular, even though the last appear sometimes "hedonists".
He also warned the bishops not to succumb to apathy or mediocrity.
Notifying the evils of materialism, the pontiff added: "Do not forget that the devil enters through your pockets!"
