Francis: ‘It Is an Honor When Americans Attack Me’

'(W)e are duty bound to honor the Pope. ... Let us continue to give him due honor.' Fr Zed has a sharp wit!

From Fr Z's Blog

From the Catholic Herald:

Pope Francis: ‘It is an honor when Americans attack me’

The Pope’s spokesman later clarified that the Pontiff ‘always considers criticisms an honor’, particularly from ‘an important nation’

Pope Francis told a reporter that it is “an honor when Americans attack me.”

The pope made his comments to Nicolas Seneze, a reporter from La Croix, the French Catholic daily newspaper, during the flight Sept. 4 from Rome to Maputo, Mozambique.

Seneze is author of “Comment l’Amerique veut changer de pape,” which can be translated as “how America wanted to change popes.” Seneze gave Pope Francis a copy of the book during the flight.  [The book is stuffed with rubbish from professional bomb throwers like Beans.]

Pope Francis said he had heard about the book, but had not been able to find a copy. The volume, currently available only in French, went on sale the day of the papal flight.

The book presents the long list of accusations against Pope Francis made in August 2018 by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former nuncio to the United States, as one part of a concerted effort, led mainly by Catholics in the United States, to cast doubt on the legitimacy of Pope Francis’ ministry.

Seneze’s thesis is that “rigorist” Catholics, mainly wealthy, are opposed to Pope Francis’ emphasis on mercy over clear rules, [B as in B.  S as in S.] his teaching on ethical problems with the way the world’s economy is working, and his overtures to Cuba and China. [You mean the Chinese, who are now being crushed by the government?]

After telling Seneze that he had not yet read the book, the pope told him, “It’s an honor when the Americans attack me.”

And handing the book on to an aide, the pope commented, “It’s a bomb.” [Whatever that means.]

Shortly after Pope Francis returned to the front of the plane after greeting each member of the media, Matteo Bruni, his spokesman, came to the journalists with a statement.

“In an informal context, the pope wanted to say that he always considers criticisms an honor, particularly when they come from authoritative thinkers — in this case from an important nation,” Bruni said.  [Uh huh.]

A couple things.

What would Francis say about someone out there who lumps huge groups of people into one category?  “Argentinians are….”

There is an old phrase about politicians who accidentally tell the truth.

It could be that this phrase tells us something about what Francis really thinks about Americans.

Oh… and how many new cardinals did he select for these USA?

Okay, so this “I’m honored when Americans attack me” is just a passing remark.

Meanwhile, let all be reminded that we are duty bound to honor the Pope.

Among all the prelates of the whole Church throughout the world, the Pope has “primacy of honor”.

Let us continue to give him due honor.