VATICAN CITY
Star Tribune
By FRANCES D’EMILIO Associated Press NOVEMBER 6, 2015
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Friday decried how bishops and other clergy exploit their roles to advance their careers and to increase wealth, in his first public comments following the latest leaked revelations of greedy Vatican prelates resisting his efforts to reform Holy See finances and administration.
“Even in the church there are these people, who, instead of serving, of thinking, of others … use the church. They are the career-climbers, those attached to money,” the pope said during Mass in the chapel of the plain Vatican hotel where he chose to live, in an example of simplicity, instead of dwelling in the ornate Apostolic Palace.
Looking somber and sounding grim, he added: “And how many priests, bishops we have seen like this. It’s sad to say it, no?”
Francis delivered the impromptu remarks during his daily homily, apparently inspired by revelations in two books, which went on sale on Thursday, of leaked documents and conversations.
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