Loving The Camera
Sweeter than the smell of the sheep...
And it came to pass the Bishop of Rome was supposed to act as confessor, in order to encourage people to avail themselves of a sacrament for which in his own personal “off-the-cuff” theology there seem to be no need; still, a laudable initiative in itself, as it goes towards putting a partial patch over the mess Francis himself causes with his reckless talk about salvation through following one's conscience, and being a mafioso as a requirement for going to hell.
The only problem in that is that a confessional is a rather discreet place, and the photo-op would not have been so good.
And then the man sees acamera lens, and another confessional, and promptly seizes the moment; once again showing to us devout fans what a humbling effect a camera lens has on him. The world, which loves these little stunts, is pleasantly surprised. The Pope goes to confession! You don't say?! But wait, was he not infallible? Or is that infrangible? And look, he asked to be confessed by a simple priest! I thought it had to be a Cardinal Archbishop! At least! …. Whatever…..What a man of the people! He doesn't judge gays, you know…
Another day. Another step towards decline and persecution. Another camera lens. Another cheap papal stunt.
With all his shortcomings, boy, how I miss Benedict…
Mundabor
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Posted on March 31, 2014, in Catholicism, Conservative Catholicism, Traditional Catholicism and tagged Confession, Pope Francis. Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.
Mundabor's Blog 
One thing I find really annoying is how the Pope is kneeling ‘in front’ of the confessional instead of at the side.
Please correct me if I an wrong but I thought that style of confessional had 2 sides. Penitents alternate to the left and right with the Priest in the centre. There are grills built into the walls, to the left and right to obscure the priest from the penitent.
I’ve always preferred that kind of confessional.
According to the Wiki entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessional what I have described is called the Traditional confessional. Oh well, seems I am a old-timer.
Once observation though, I notice hollywood movies always show ‘Traditional’ confessionals.
Obviously the film industry can distinguish the genuine article from the latest fad.
This is the “new”Italian fashion, unfortunately.
M
Thank you. I was beginning to think I was the only one who saw that as a PR stunt. And as an opportunity for the press to compliment the current bishop of Rome and, by implication at least, insult the previous ones (all the previous ones apparently).
Maybe it is a p.r stunt, but I think ultimately it’s a good thing for people to see, specifically the majority of novus ordo goers. The majority of these people don’t go to confession. Most have no understanding of the sacrament, so maybe, just maybe they’ll question themselves why the pope goes to confession when they don’t. you would hope God can use this for some good.
Yes, in itself it is good that he encourages people to go to confession. But again, he is also the one who repeatedly stated one can be saved by following his conscience, which explicitly excludes any need to go to confession.
IN general, the vanity of the man does not need that everything he does must be negative. If kissing children creates a positive image, it might even be that someone is positively impressed by a Pope because he sees him kissing a child. Still, not only the vanity remains, but one wonders what kind of person it is that goes to confession because he sees a photo of the pope doing so, or thinks better of a pope because he sees him kissing a child. This is the kind of superficial, emotional impact that does not bear any fruit; which is why generally you don’t see serious Popes looking for such “special effects”.
M
Like any self respecting Pharisee, he wants to be seen.
He hired former Fox News journalist and a top-notch shelf PR fir(Ernst & Young). Here, media is analyzed; response measured; engagement planned. The whole purpose of PR is to get the stories in media you want so they can outperform the ones you don’t, and ultimately change perception.
Come to think of it: I’m paying to be deceived.
He knows he’s being photographed/filmed at all times…..maybe im just becoming jaded more than I should be with Pope Francis, but as soon as I saw this on Yahoo yesterday the first thing that went through my head was “Oh boy, here we go again….the “humble” Pope looking for another photo op”.
Mundabor….a question: you said a Pope needed to confess to a Cardinal…I did not know this…can you please elaborate if possible? Thanks.
It was said mockingly. It is obviously not true.
M
Funny that he would choose to kneel in front of the confessional. (I had to google it just now to see…) It would have been a better show of humility had he just entered one of the sides, like a regular penitent. But the portrait-style photos, and the drama, are better with him in the front.
Unfortunately, the fashion in Italy seems not to enter the sides, but to approach the priest from the frontal part of the confessional.
I have seen it very often in Rome, and find it stupid and embarrassing. There isn’t much privacy, and in those beautiful Roman churches with great acoustics it is even worse. Those confessional are made as they are made for a reason, it is typical of V II that their function should be entirely negated by that kind of use.
M
A truly humble Francis would have ditched the white habit along with the red shoes. A truly, truly humble Francis would have gone to Confession privately and afterwards told the world, reminding Catholics of their Easter duties. He would have revealed how often he attends the confessional. But, then, he wouldn’t be Francis.
The name of the R former Fox news journalist is Greg Burke. I think he also worked for the National Catholic Register.
Pretty disgusting when the papacy comes down to the pope having his own public relations person to make him popular.
Ugg. Ugg.