Be open to the good, regardless of origin – Pope
Pope Francis has advised people to be open to the good, regardless of whether it comes from someone outside their own “circle”.
The Pope reflected, during his Angelus address in St Peter’s Square, September 30, on the day’s Gospel, in which Christ taught his disciples humility and to avoid scandal.
When the disciples objected to someone outside their group casting out a demon, Pope Francis said they “demonstrate a closed attitude before an event that does not fit into their schemes, in this case the action, though good, of a person ‘external’ to the circle of followers”.
“In good faith, indeed, with zeal, one would like to protect the authenticity of a certain experience, protecting the founder or the leader from false imitators,” he said, but there is also fear of competition, that someone can “steal followers”. This leads to a lack of appreciation for what others do, Francis said.
Viganò claims Vatican official has cover-up evidence
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the former nuncio to the US who accused Pope Francis and Church officials of failing to act on accusations of sexual abuse, has urged a top Vatican official to release documents that would prove his allegations. In a four-page letter released last week, Archbishop Viganò called on Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, to release information about alleged private sanctions imposed by now-retired Pope Benedict XVI on then-Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick.
“Your Eminence, before I left for Washington, you were the one who told me of Pope Benedict’s sanctions on McCarrick. You have at your complete disposal key documents incriminating McCarrick and many in the curia for their cover-ups. “Your Eminence, I urge you to bear witness to the truth,” the former nuncio wrote.
He also called on leaders of the US bishops’ conference, who had a private meeting with Pope Francis on September 13, to say if the Pope refused “to carry out a Vatican investigation into McCarrick’s crimes and those responsible for covering them up”.
Cardinal Ovellet has described Dr Viganò’s claims as “an unjust attack”.
Call for Catholics and Pentecostals to learn from each other
Pope Francis said many Catholics share his initial thoughts about the worship of charismatic Christians – “that more than prayer meetings they seem to be samba schools” – but he is convinced God wants Catholics and Pentecostals to learn from each other.
Catholics can appreciate the way Pentecostals “live their Faith, give praise to God and witness to the Gospel of charity” although “often in ways different than we are used to”, the Pope said during a meeting with members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Pentecostals, on the other hand, should be helped to “overcome their prejudices about the Catholic Church and recognise that in the invaluable treasure of the tradition received from the Apostles and safeguarded throughout history, the Holy Spirit has, in fact, not been extinguished or suffocated, but continues to work effectively,” the Pope said.
Council members were holding their plenary meeting, which focused on relations with Pentecostals, charismatics and evangelical Christians.
