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onehandle

(51,122 posts)
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 04:28 PM Mar 2013

Pope wants to stay in simple residence for now

Source: Reuters



VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis wants to stay for the time being in a simple Vatican residence instead of moving into the spacious and regal papal apartments, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

The former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina is still living in the Domus Santa Martha, a modern hotel-style residence inside the Vatican City where he stayed during the conclave that elected him on March 13.

Although the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace - which consist of more than a dozen rooms as well as quarters for staff and a terrace - are available, he shows no desire to move in any time soon, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-wants-stay-simple-residence-now-151559639.html;_ylt=A2KJ2PZLBFJR4EQA0u7QtDMD



Francis May Be First Pope in 110 Years to Decline Swank Real-Estate Upgrade

Francis is currently living in the St. Martha guest house, a five-story apartment house that was built specifically to hold the College of Cardinals when they come to Rome for papal elections. After being elected Pope on March 13, he did switch to a slightly larger room, but apparently is more comfortable in guest house, which is a lot less fancy, but also less isolated. About half of the guest house's rooms are occupied by permanent residents, who share a common dining room and a small chapel for morning and evening prayers.

http://news.yahoo.com/francis-may-first-pope-110-years-decline-swank-195224067.html;_ylt=A2KJ2PZLBFJR4EQA1O7QtDMD
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Javaman

(62,439 posts)
2. "still living in the Domus Santa Martha, a modern hotel-style residence"
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 04:34 PM
Mar 2013

He was quoted as saying, "the room service is killer, why should I move? I'm the Pope"

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
3. Maybe it's the isolation of the palace he wants to avoid
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 04:36 PM
Mar 2013

The surroundings might be fitting an Emperor of the church, but he'd be surrounded by fluffers, functionaries, and other varieties of yes man. Where he is, he's surrounded by people who have some sort of business at the Vatican and will be tougher to isolate from what little of the real world that is allowed to intrude there.

If that's his aim, smart guy. If he's trying to show us all how humble he is, not so much.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
5. He should get diphtheria like many of parishioners... that'd really show 'em!
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 04:50 PM
Mar 2013

He should get diphtheria like many of parishioners... that'd really show 'em!

Idiocy, when reflected, is yet still idiocy.

 

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)
6. I think that is great. Maybe they should turn the palace into a museum.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 04:50 PM
Mar 2013

Clergy should always go simple.

VA_Jill

(9,852 posts)
8. Sounds to me
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 05:14 PM
Mar 2013

like he also likes the company of others and doesn't want the isolation of the papal apartments. That I can understand. I wouldn't want to be stuck there with nothing but flunkies and fluffers. Being around others keeps you real.

 

mike978

(68 posts)
9. I think he is over playing this
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 05:22 PM
Mar 2013

whole "simple and approachable" schtick. He agreed to be pope (he had a chance to run it down) and he knows what that entails.
Are you saying as Pope he cannot get people to come to his official residence and needs a hotel to meet people?

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
11. He agreed to be Pope but that doesn't mean he agreed to living lavishly and in isolation.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:39 PM
Mar 2013

A 110 year tradition isn't long in the life of the Church. He's free to change it.


http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/pope-francis-live-vatican-guesthouse-not-papal-apartments

He will be the first pope in 110 years not to live in the papal apartments on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace.

In 1903, St. Pius X became the first pope to live in the apartments overlooking St. Peter's Square. The apartments were completely remodeled by Pope Paul VI in 1964 and have undergone smaller modifications by each pope since, according to "Mondo Vaticano," a Vatican-published mini-encyclopedia about Vatican buildings, offices and tradition.

global1

(25,167 posts)
10. He's Getting Us All Accustomed To Living Poor....
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:18 PM
Mar 2013

as that is what the world has in store for all of us.

Maybe the politicians in Washington D.C. should start following his example. They are driving us to the poor house - keeping us down - destroying the middle class.

The Pope is just trying to make us all feel at home.

Rowdyboy

(22,057 posts)
12. I'll say this, I find his style in exercising the papacy so far to be refreshing....
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:43 PM
Mar 2013

Certainly that could change at the drop of a hat...

olddad56

(5,732 posts)
13. I like this Pope. I'm not a fan of the Catholic church, but I think this pope gives them
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 06:46 PM
Mar 2013

a little more credibility with the world.

caseymoz

(5,763 posts)
15. As an ex-Catholic atheist, I'm liking him, too.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 09:37 PM
Mar 2013

So far, his emphasis has been on helping the poor, and he hasn't given speeches or writings about the "sinfulness" of abortion, birth control or sex without marriage.

So far.

I never, at any time, felt this way about Benedict or John Paul.

Beacool

(30,244 posts)
18. I think that the Cardinals made a good choice.
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 11:52 PM
Mar 2013

"In the past few days Francis has moved out of a single room in the residence, which has some 130 rooms, into a suite so he could have more space to work and to receive people, Lombardi said.

Francis has set a more austere tone for the papacy than his predecessor Benedict XVI, who gained a reputation for sumptuous costumes. Lombardi says the new pope enjoys the residence's community atmosphere where he lives alongside other clergy.

The pope says Mass in its chapel every morning and invites Vatican workers and other guests to attend."

That's what he's used to, as cardinal in Buenos Aires he lived modestly. He took the bus and subway every day and cooked his own meals. Since he's been pope he has called friends back home by simply identifying himself as Jorge or Bergoglio. No airs about him. The best part is imagining the discomfort of the Curia. I bet they much preferred the imperial Benedict.


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