Lest anybody forgot, on announcing his first scarlet batch a year ago this week, the Pope issued a public letter to the cardinals-designate warning them that they were to accept the red hat as “neither an honour nor a decoration,” but “simply a service that requires you to broaden your gaze and open your hearts.” The incoming class was likewise urged to greet their elevations in a manner “far from any expression of worldliness or from any form of celebration contrary to the evangelical spirit of austerity, sobriety and poverty.”“The cardinalate,” Francis said, “does not imply promotion.”
But yr Holiness, but-but-but . . . It’s never been that way!
(I love what he does in ecclesiastical matters, where he knows what he’s talking about.)
Blithe Spirit 
Then let’s do away with the red hats, the pomp and circumstance and let them dress no different than Franciscans. Are we still supposed to kiss their rings?
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There’s a cardinal from Vietnam? The commies must be very tolerant of the opiate.
>________________________________ > From: Blithe Spirit >To: dennis@dennisbyrne.net >Sent: Tuesday, January 6, 2015 4:08 PM >Subject: [New post] The Pope strikes again: Cardinals where you don’t expect to find them > > > > WordPress.com >Jim Bowman posted: “Including mere bishops plucked out of Nowheresville. And with a rather stern, definitely no-nonsense message. Lest anybody forgot, on announcing his first scarlet batch a year ago this week, the Pope issued a public letter to the cardinals-designate war” >
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