Ecclesiastical Culture Change

"Leaders of the Church have often been Narcissuses, gratified and sickeningly excited by their courtiers. The court [around the pope] is the leprosy of the papacy.
"The court [around the pope] is the leprosy of the papacy." The Holy See's "Vatican-centric vision neglects the world that surrounds it.
"I do not share this vision and will do everything to change it."
Pope Francis

Sept. 30, 2013: In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis stands with cardinals during a consistory at the Vatican. (AP/L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO)

Stark denunciation. Pope Francis' view of the entitled behaviour of those with whom he is surrounded and whose values and priories and view of themselves and their position within the Church he objects to and plans to change. Clearly, this pope is different, far different from his predecessors. Does this reflect his Jesuit inheritance? The courtiers representing the finest the Church has to offer from the international community of the worshipping faithful do not meet his standards of faith and humanity.

He has appointed a special commission of eight cardinals, whose values within the Catholic Church he does trust. He trusts them to evaluate a situation that has its stark short-comings, and to recommend changes in the traditions that have served the Holy See for so long a period, to transform it into a community of elite faithful worthy of their status within the Church, and judged representative by Francis to serve their God meaningfully.

"They are not courtiers but wise people who are inspired by my same feelings. This is the start of a church with an organization that is not only vertical but also horizontal", said Pope Francis of those who will advise him on how he might reform the Vatican administration. Among their number is Sean O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, cardinals Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, Laurent Monsegwo Pasinya, archbishop of Kinshasa, Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich & Freising.

Their presence is a reflection of the far-flung influence of the Church and recognition of where its growth and influence is the most robust. They will represent a kind of parallel cabinet expected to interact with the Vatican bureaucracy of long-standing, known as the Vatican Curia. What appears to have led to the abdication of former Pope Benedict was the revelation that within the Curia infighting and corruption was rife.

The opaque and suspect operation of the Vatican Bank, mysteriously sinister events linked to it, including inexplicable and unexplained death, remains a rankling sore that must also be healed. Pope Francis is prepared to lead the Vatican bank toward transparency and accountability. Founded in 1942, named the Institute for Works of Religion, its published earnings last year revealed publicly, were valued at $120-million; over four times more than in 2011.

Another first took place at the Vatican very recently, one that must surely have caused many within the Holy See to catch their breath in amazement, and perhaps tinged with wry regret among many.  La Stampa's Vatican Insider reported that Pope Francis paid host to his close friend Rabbi Abraham Skorka from Argentina for several days at his Vatican residence:
"Never before in the history of Christian-Jewish relations have a Pope and a Rabbi celebrated their friendship by living in the Vatican together for several days, sharing all meals, including on two Jewish festivals and the Sabbath at which the Rabbi said prayers in Hebrew, and discussing what more they can do together to promote dialogue and peace in the world."