I think this is just the saddest picture of our beloved Holy Father. His face seems full of unhappiness. I am not sure where thisi is from.
Is that Cardinal Sarah the other Bishops are gathering around or are they just leaving together?
I am told this is increasingly not unusual in the Vatican.
26 comments:
Please pray FOR the Holy Father....his intentions however... well that's another matter
"The Holy Father will have much to suffer."
This makes me feel very sad and actually worried to see the Holy Father so isolated here.
I do not think this has been a good Pontificate and wonder if there is beginning to be a reaction against it in Rome? There have been so many epsisodes now of confusion and ambiguity. Leaving aside the Trump episode, there is now the Holy Father's praise of the former Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino who is a proud supporter of abortion.
It is hard to work out Pope Francis as a person - he still remains an enigma to me. I also cannot get out of my head that Cardinal Danneels was personally appointed to the Synod by the Pope.
But my overall feeling is one of sadness at this photo. It suggests that all is not well in Rome.
Well it is all his own doing. From the time they "Mafia club" schemed to elect him Mahoney(who can no longer vote in conclave, McCarrick (slept with seminarians and priests) Daneels (covered for paedophile bishop he appointed to Bruges). He is self made semi Peronist. I pray Cardinal Burke is our next pope.
How much can we really read into this photo?
What event at the Vatican has just ended? What is the protocol for the exeunt omnes of cardinals and bishops? Surely the pope doesn't just exit with them in one big jovial, back-slapping throng? Is the pope waiting for an aide to bring him something? Is he feeling unwell/jet-lagged? Is his arthritis is playing up again?
If he looked like this whenever he is greeting heads of state or giving press conferences on planes, then we might be able to draw conclusions. Unless you feel able to elaborate on your comment suggesting that there is trouble at mill...
Photo reinforces my opinion that Pope Francis will abdicate. Within two years we will have a new pope.
It is indeed 'all his own doing' that he is not feelilng the support of his bishops and cardinals. I pray for his soul because more and more he gives evidence of contempt for all things Catholic. Calling an abortionist (Emma Bonino) 'one of the greats' after his flubbing around about contraception (on the plane interview) are just two examples. this man surely needs prayers.
The picture is from Radio Vatican, German section. Posted on facebook 23rd Feb, https://www.facebook.com/RadioVatikanDeutsch
'Holy Mary, Mother of God and mother of mercy,pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and for us all.'
I too am very saddened by this picture, even though I have been vocal in my objections to many of the aberrant sayings and doings of the Holy Father. I will definitely increase my prayers for him.
We must pray for the pope everyday.
The photo is sad and from what you gather from other blogs
and Vatican insiders all is truly not well with the Vatican.
Francis is tolerated.
The pope has made a real mess of his papacy.
I have not the slightest wish to visit Rome while ever this pope is there.
The foto depicts the Holy Father waiting before joining the procession through the Holy Door on 22 February last, the Jubilee of the Curia. The Holy Father chose to -not- join the cardinals and bishops who headed the procession, or the priests at its end, but to walk with the big group of Holy See employees. He is waiting for the first group of employees to have followed the bishops to then join "in the middle".
My guess is that those who wanted the election of a liberal Jesuit are severely disappointed and are already turning against him or are ready to do so - they wanted the sort of dramatic change that Cardinal Martini wanted but there are few signs of the Pope providing it in the presumably short time left to him. I also think that he really believed that the unpleasant comments directed at the traditionalists would bring them into line but instead, of course, they have just increased their alienation. He is without strong support on any side and this picture summarises his situation neatly - a situation of which he must be becoming increasingly and painfully aware.
Totally agree Francis. A photo captures a small moment in time and for others to use the photo in support of their guesses is not intelligent.
@ Francis,
The security man, if that's what he is, standing back to the wall is keeping a close eye on His Holiness. Good Bloke!
At this stage that is all I would read into this photo, or any other one!
Unknown: Thank you for the explanation of the photo. It certainly makes sense. Too many are ready to dismiss the Pope for any reason as can be seen from the other posts here.
The bishops seem to be gathered around a cleric who looks as if he is announcing directions or arrangements which they are expected to follow. Most are very properly paying attention. With his own minders, the holy father has no need of such marching orders. Why he should sit about idly in full view while this is done is the really interesting question.
I don't know which of the many photographs of Pope Francis evoke more sorrow. This one, which is evocative and perhaps suggestive of how Francis' personal weaknesses may have been exploited by the diabolically cunning, or those many spontaneous depictions where Francis has hidden his pectoral cross or donned a red nose or accepted the gift of the Marxist crucifix. To my mind, the latter is infinitely more heart-breaking than the former.
Indeed we must pray much for the Holy Father so that he may strengthen his brethren in the Faith. Luke 22:32
"The Holy Father will have much to suffer" and he will make many good people suffer. Its not about him... its not about the super Christian or oracle many people including pagans think he is. The Pope needs to conform and respect the tradition.... not twist it or distort it. Its a doctrinal molestation of Christians and mirrors the very strategy used to cover sex abuse. Christ, the Church and the Gospels existed before Vatican II. We don't seem to grasp that and treat continuity with the reverence its deserves. I don't have to believe Francis' election was God's will. He has to do what all of us have to do. Conform ourselves to the teaching of Christ in his Church. Did Paul VI create a precedent? He obviously attacked and altered, mutilated the tradition of the Church in a way that sowed doubts and caused a deep existential cultural rift. I think the changes brought about through a misunderstanding of the role of the Pope is behind this. The changes in the 1960's 1970's were a validation of every attack ever made on the Church and caused an implosion. These were imposed by Paul VI. It's a pattern that is used to mislead and we need to oppose and ignore it.
I wonder who took the photo and more importantly what was the reason for him to take it? I thought at first it was probably taken after attending a concert as Pope Francis appears to be holding a programme in his hands although according to 'Unknown' this was not so.
The Pope's face in repose is miserable, (like the Queen's), so I'm not sure one can make a judgement on the basis of one photograph which captures an instant without the context of before or after. It's possible the Pope is isolating himself. It happens to people in power, in spite of their good intentions to be available to all, because there just isn't the time in the face of official duties. The danger is a growing and heavy reliance on a small coterie of 'yes' men.
If it is correct that increasingly the Pope is being cold-shouldered by the hierarchy, then they need to have the courage to come out and say why.
He does not seem to be wearing white.
Completely of topic but this is for Jacobi on the subject of comments being deleted on the Catholic Herald site. I used the word "s-d-my" and my comment was deleted. I had kept a copy so substituted 'homosexual sexual activity" and it was accepted. This evening I posted the following
Ah mere logic and REALITY. By coincidence this morning I was reading no XXX of the Screwtape Letters. Screwtape is advising on how confusion can be caused in the mind of the patient by confusing him with the different ideas of what is real. He finishes: "Your patient, properly handled, will have no difficulty in regarding his emotion at the sight of human entrails as a revelation of Reality and his emotions at the sight of happy children or fair weather as mere sentiment."
You ought to read it.
Now what word did I use that merited deletion? Or does Screwtape not like being quoted out of context? Has he infiltrated the Catholic Herald?
Got it! I substituted 30 for XXX and it worked! Evidently Roman numerals now have some connotation of which I am blissfully unaware.
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