Pope Francis Rebukes Vatican in Christmas Greeting

Pope Francis’s Christmas greeting on Monday contained a scorching critique of the Vatican bureaucracy. The pope addressed the greeting to cardinals, bishops and priests running the Vatican.

His greeting listed 15 sins, or what he called “illnesses,” of the Curia that he hoped would be cured in the upcoming year.

The tepid applause given after his speech showed the cardinals were not happy with the criticism. Few responded positively when he listed the 15 “Ailments of the Curia,” complete with footnotes and biblical references.

While Vatican officials were not happy to receive such an open rebuke, you can count on the public praising the pope’s speech.

Under Francis’s leadership, the papacy has experienced a revival. The pope’s charisma has drawn thousands back to the Catholic Church.

This is not the first time he has highlighted problems inside the Vatican. As his reform agenda gathers steam, he is becoming emboldened to do so even more. The pope’s message on Monday is another move to reform the church’s image.

For more on what this means for the Catholic Church’s role in Europe, read our article “Why Pope Francis’s Popularity Matters.”