According to the Vatican’s outgoing Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, “a mix of crows and vipers” was responsible for the campaign of criticism against him. He belives that “on balance” his tenure of office was a good one.

Bertone was speaking in Sicily just after his resignation and the appointment of a new Secretary of State. Italians use the word ‘crow’ to refer to spies or informants.

Following the revelations of ‘Vatileaks’, Bertone’s leadership had been strongly criticised. He conceded that “there were a lot of problems, especially in the last two years” but added that his role was to carry out the Pope’s wishes, which he did faithfully.

Pope on light of Christ

The great difference between the light of Christ and the lights of the world, which look brighter, was the subject of a homily of Pope Francis.

The Pope said that because the lights of the world are brighter than the light of Christ, man is often attracted by them. But he said the lights of the world “make you arrogant” or “bring you to look on others from on high”. The light that Jesus brings on the contrary, is “a mild light, a quiet light, a light of peace”.

The Pope said that the signs of the presence of Jesus are “humility, meekness, love and the Cross”. He encouraged the faithful to pray for “the wisdom and discernment to understand when it is Jesus who gives us the light, and when it is the devil, disguised as an angel of light”.

Space for Gutierrez

L’Osservatore Romano, the semi-official newspaper of the Holy See, will soon devote considerable space to the writings of the Peruvian theologian Fr Gustavo Gutierrez, who is considered the founder of liberation theology. Fr Ugo Sartorio said that “with a Latin American Pope, liberation theology could not stay long in the shadows to which it has been relegated for some years, at least in Europe”.

Liberation Theology, born and bred in Latin America, was criticised by many, including Vatican prelates, for its ties with some elements of Marxist ideology. On the other hand, its many supporters say that Liberation Theology is the natural response of Christians to structural injustices and poverty.

US bishops criticise economic inequalities

Commemorating Labour Day in the US, Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, California, the chairman of the US bishops’ committee on domestic affairs, said:

“The only way to reduce the widening gap between the affluent and the poorest people in our nation is by creating quality jobs that provide a just compensation and enables workers to live in the dignity appropriate for themselves and their families.

“The Church, in accord with her principles on the life and dignity of the human person, wishes to collaborate with unions in securing the rights and dignity of workers.”

‘Martini was prophetic, man of peace’ – Pope

Pope Francis described Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini as a “prophetic” figure and a “man of discernment and peace”. The Pope added that Martini was “a father for the whole Church”, and remembering one’s fathers “is an act of justice”.

He was speaking on the eve of the first anniversary of the death of Martini and on the occasion of the setting up of the Carlo Maria Martini Foundation.

The Pope added that the late cardinal played an important role during the general congregation of the Society of Jesus in 1974 in discussions about the relationship between faith and justice.

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)

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