VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter
Joshua J. McElwee | Feb. 9, 2017
ROME
Pope Francis admitted to the leaders of the world’s Catholic male religious orders in a meeting last fall that the Vatican is a corrupt place, but said he is at peace in his work reforming the church’s command structures.
“There is corruption in the Vatican,” the pontiff told members of the Union of Superiors General Nov. 26, according to a report of the meeting released for the first time Thursday by the Italian Jesuit magazine La Civilta Cattolica.
The pope made the admission after being asked by one of the religious leaders how he maintains serenity in his work.
“I do not take tranquilizers!” Francis joked, before adding: “The Italians offer good advice: to live in peace you need a healthy dose of not caring.”
“I am at peace,” said the pontiff, explaining that he has a small statue of a sleeping St. Joseph on his desk and that he places notes identifying problems he needs Joseph to help with under the statue.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.