He has a message for critics, but to newsies, not to them.
He discusses them with others, not deigning to engage them directly:
Some of Francis’ closest allies have in recent months publicly said that he is the target of a conspiracy by conservative enemies who are threatened by the more pastoral direction that he has taken the church.
One close adviser, Antonio Spadaro, a prominent Jesuit who edits the Vatican-vetted magazine, Civiltà Cattolica, has accused American Catholic ultraconservatives of making an unholy alliance of “hate” with evangelical Christians to help President Trump.
The ineffable Spadaro!
Francis plays the benign daddy, who knows and pities his children.
On the plane, Francis suggested that some of his most ardent critics were working out their own problems by lashing out.
Poor souls!
“We have to be gentle, gentle with the people tempted by these attacks, by these things,” he said. “Because they are going through problems and we should accompany them with gentleness.”
Their problems, not his. From his bully pulpit.
via New York Times
Blithe Spirit 