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A medieval message of humility for Bling Bishop, 500 years later
By Lucky Gold, CNN
Imagine a world where a medieval message of humility and reform is delivered five centuries later.
From the moment he first appeared on the Vatican balcony, Pope Francis has challenged his fellow priests to put aside the trappings of wealth and power.
Whether washing feet at Eastertide or carrying his own bag and driving his own little car, the pope has walked the talk.
On Wednesday he made another kind of statement, by suspending a German bishop whose personal excesses had earned him the nickname ‘The Bishop of Bling.’
Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst has been under fire – not only in Rome, but in his own diocese of Limburg, a place famous for its redolent cheese.
This time, the stink in Limburg emanated from the $42 million the bishop spent renovating his palatial residence.
To protest their bishop's lavish lifestyle, angry parishioners linked arms outside his door, and even posted a reminder of another German priest who railed against the Church of his day.
In 1517, Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation when he nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. They condemned the excesses of Rome and the corruption of the priesthood.
Almost 500 years later, Pope Francis has emphatically delivered his own message: That he and his church want priests, not princes.
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Not late yet Bishop of Rome(the prefecture of the Pope), if those of old had done several centuries ago, would probably still have a far less split church today maybe...but this (the action of the Pope) to a fundamentalist christian still demonstrate that it could be long, but God still raises those who answer the questions His children have asked Him! Good for the Pope, good for the universal catholic church! I have learnt that the world is still very concerned about its church no matter how it seems it (the world) has risen against it because the response to the Pope's response has been really plausible.
The cheese is from Limburg in the Netherlands, not from Limburg, Germany...
No surprise that Amanpour does not do proper research and just assumes things. Any one that assumes (ass+u+me) anything old "Mumble Mouth" says is true deserves to be deceived by her "reports"
This is only a marketing campaign to bring more people to church and get more money,
That is absolutely asinine what you just said... instead of looking at the simplicity and beauty of this Pope you have nothing but dark words... feel sorry for you and those like you.
An inspired choice for Pope, a man of simplicity, who sets a fine example for the faithful.
A good thing, but what is wrong with the reporter. What an odd tone of voice. It is like she is reading a story to a 5 year old.
Sure looks that way. And each sentence stands alone, almost as if the writer was outlining notions for several different paragraphs, but never got around to actually filling out the story..
Which ever way, people will still criticise. Godly will continue to be Godly. God bless the Pope and direct His ways, IJN.
Thanks for the laugh, but you really should research your subject a bit more....Limburg, Germany is not famous for the cheese.
wolf in sheep's clothing. Francis should scrap gold,diamond, silver etc. off Vatican walls first.
Ironically the highly-praised Martin Luther's movement has resulted in more grandiose mega-wealthy mega-church ministers than any religion in the history of mankind. It's always fun to jump on the Catholic-church bashing band-wagon, but this is one isolated incident that's being addressed.
People are quick to judge and to take on the Catholic church, yet, years in and years out the Pope that have been picked have been very good ones and with the Holy Spirit... i am glad this Pope Francis is showing to the world he is above the innuendos and the malicious reporting by the media and he concentrates on the spirituality of his flock and how to spread the word of God to as many as want to hear it... God has a way of finding leaders for His people all people...