From Andrea Tornielli
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“The atmosphere is poisonous, heavy. Some claim that in the future we won’t be able to take mobile phones with inbuilt cameras into the Vatican.” [Wow! Much like going into the INC Main Temple? Ha!] The ban on camera phones is just a rumour that has been circulating around the Secretariat of State in the last few days, [maybe they will do this now in the Secretariat considering how paranoid Bertone must be!] which have been the most difficult in the Vatican in recent years. “Somehow this is even worse than the storm caused by the Church paedophilia scandal,” said a priest who entered the great gate of Porta Angelica with brisk fearful steps.
Talking moles
Many outside the Vatican doubt the guilt of Paolo Gabriele, [me among them!] the Pope’s butler and no one seems to think he could have master-minded the leak of documents published in journalist Gianluigi Nuzzi’s book. We do not know the extent of his involvement yet. If the inquiry remains at this level, the doubts will inevitably grow. The net of moles, which allegedly includes a number of people, struck again, giving once more the same motives that had been put forward by the famous investigative reporter in the pages of “Sua santità” (His Holiness). The leak of Benedict XVI’s confidential papers could apparently have been an act to help the Pope. Few believe this to be true, mostly because the Vatileaks scandal has managed to besmirch the Holy See as a whole and its image is now in tatters. [I doubt it. Only the anti-Catholics are happy for this.]
Infamous dismissal
Yesterday Fr. Lombardi claimed that there is no connection between the motion of no confidence in the Vatican Bank’s former president, Ettore Gotti Tedeschi and the Vatileaks issue. On Thursday the IOR’s lay supervisory council removed the banker who had been chosen by Cardinal Bertone in September 2009 and who was also a leading writer for Vatican daily broadsheet L’Osservatore Romano as well as a friend of the newspaper’s director, Gian Maria Vian. The next day the committee of cardinals met to ratify the vote, but no statement regarding their verdict has been released as yet. The very harsh letter by Carl Anderson, [my Supreme Knight!] one of the four board members, containing the reasons behind the dismissal of Gotti Tedeschi, whose professional image has been destroyed, was intentionally published. The banker was also accused of not “ explaining the distribution of certain documents” he kept. The way he was dismissed is brand new in the history of the Holy See and could have major repercussions, if and when Gotti Tedeschi will decide to speak up.
Is it time for the cardinal to retire?
According to the moles, the real target of the Vatileaks operation, is allegedly the Vatican Secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone. The whole thing would have been orchestrated to pressure him into retiring. However, objectively speaking, the explosion of the Vatileaks scandal seems far too extreme for its aim to be the simple removal of a cardinal who will turn 78 in December. Unless one were to believe (and some do) that the ambitions of those who would like to take his place might be the hidden motive behind the storm that is raging inside and outside the Curia and if we were to look even further, perhaps we would find the power struggle for the succession of the ageing Pope at the root of the problems. Ratzinger wanted Bertone by his side because he trusts him and has no intention of removing him, even though the cardinal himself offered to resign. His management of the Secretariat of State has been the target of heavy criticism. However, as happened before, in times of crisis, the ecclesiastical institution has clammed up to protect its clerics.
Pope's secretary targeted
Fr. Georg Gänswein, Benedict XVI’s personal secretary, is facing a difficult time, since Paolo Gabriele had worked alongside him in the papal apartments for six years. Fr. Georg’s influence has grown in the last two years as have the rumours concerning attempts to drive him away from the Pope, such as his possible appointment as bishop in Germany, now that the Diocese of Regensburg is to become vacant and its current bishop is to become cardinal in Rome and cover a different office. [CDF?!?! Really?!] But there are very few who believe that the Pope will get rid of his trusted secretary.
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I once again reiterate that we have to continue praying for the Holy Father.
On this note, let me share this letter from Michael
hi sir knight. i just can't help but react to the latest posts regarding the latest happenings in the vatican. it really pains me to see such situation is now happening in the vatican. [it is actually happening but it was maliciously brought out into the open and it constitutes a betrayal of the trust of the Pope, to whom the letters were addressed.] is this all because the pope is trying to bring back the church where it is supposed to be? is it because he is restoring everything that was lost after vatican II? [I think it has a bearing in it.] its sad that the pope is all alone in this episode in his papacy. [Not completely.]
i was able to chance upon this vision of Jacinta Marto: " I saw the Holy Father in a very big house, kneeling by a table, with his head buried in his hands, and he was weeping. Outside the house, there were many people. Some of them were throwing stones, others were cursing him and using bad language. Poor Holy Father, we must pray very much for him." [The Holy Father will always be the target of the devil and his demons remember that.]
i cried upon reading this message, it fits the situation of our holy father now. i suddenly felt this spiritual burden; if the holy father is suffering much, we must take a share of this suffering also in as much as we are his children. he is not suffering this because he wanted this himself, but it is because he loves us his children. truly he is a "good shepherd", who is taking the blows for us just to bring us to the right path. [beautifully written!]
lets pray for him. i myself would start a crusade of offering daily rosaries for him. [I agree! This is the way to go!] i hope you could invite your readers to also offer prayers and sacrifices for the holy father. he is suffering so much because of those people who is governed by personal interests instead of humility and service.
Thank you for the wonderful suggestion, Michael.
On that note, I ask all the readers to start praying the Rosary for the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and say this indulgenced prayer.
Prayers for the Holy Father
(to be said after the Rosary)
V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies (Roman Breviary).
Our Father. Hail Mary.
(From the old Raccolta: A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, when this prayer has been devoutly said every day for a month (S.C. Ind., Nov. 26, 1876; S. P. Ap., Oct 12, 1931).
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Benedict, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving-kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen (Roman Ritual).
(From the old Raccolta: An indulgence of three years, a plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, for the daily devout recitation of this prayer. S. P. Ap., March 10, 1935).
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