Vatican clerics are adopting a new sobriety in dress, transport and manners in an attempt to be in step with Pope Francis.
Breitbart reported priest-journalist Fr Filippo Di Giacomo saying that these days fewer cardinals show up willingly at fancy restaurants where they might get spotted by paparazzi.
“Even the relatives of religious are now careful not to give presents that appear too luxurious, because they know that the Pope does not like them,” said a Rome vendor of religious goods, Giovanna Salustri.
Her golden crosses, rings, reliquaries and monstrances, chalices, ciboria and censers sit unsold in her boutique shop.
“Look at the beautiful cardinals’ crosses in the cases,” she added, “made of silver studded with amethysts and lapis lazuli, each costing between 200 and 500 euros.
“Nobody buys them anymore because Francis wouldn’t like it and would never give his blessing to these objects.
“He always says, give the money to the poor.”
An Italian bishop is now reportedly ashamed to wear any of his extensive collection of mitres.
Fr Di Giacomo recounted the story of how Francis, on being elected Pope, refused to go to the tailor but ordered his cassock from the Serpone catalog from Naples.
“His cassock is polyester and cotton and cost at most 120 euros, not silk and mohair like many of the cardinals,” Fr Di Giacomo said.
Life for the 46 cardinals and 80 bishops living in Rome has changed, at least in appearance.
“The caravan of midnight blue cars has ended,” said Fr Di Giacomo, referring to the parade of chauffeured automobiles that used to be seen every morning taking many of the prelates to their offices.
Francis, he said, is travelling in a Ford Focus. So now the cardinals go on foot.
Sources
- Breitbart
- Image: Face of Malawi