I'm Sorry to Say this, but the Pope is a Mean Man!

Is this the face of
the Francis Church?

Pope Francis says he felt ‘bitterness’ when introduced to Catholic converts in Africa.

I missed this article in September, but, in view of the recent Amazon Synod, I think it's timely to share it. The pope smiles at shamans and witch doctors, but a woman who introduces her convert friends gets a nasty comment, the evil eye and public condemnation in the press!

From the article:

The Argentinian pontiff’s September 5 remarks were published yesterday in the Holy See’s news website Vatican News.  

“Today I felt a certain bitterness after a meeting with young people,” Pope Francis told the assembled Jesuits.

“A woman approached me with a young man and a young woman. I was told they were part of a slightly fundamentalist movement,” he continued. 

“She said to me in perfect Spanish: ‘Your Holiness, I am from South Africa. This boy was a Hindu and converted to Catholicism. This girl was Anglican and converted to Catholicism.’ But she told me in a triumphant way, as though she was showing off a hunting trophy. I felt uncomfortable and said to her, ‘Madam, evangelization yes, proselytism no.’”

Meditation for Sunday: Did I commit the mortal sin of proselytizing?

Yesterday a handsome young black man in a suit and tie knocked on my door. I knew immediately from the Bible and Watchtower in his hands that he was a Jehovah's Witness. His wife and two children were waiting for him in the car.

He started the conversation by saying he had noticed my pro-life bumper sticker and how good it was to be against abortion. I agreed. Then he began to talk to me about his faith. I listened for a few minutes and then told him I'm a Catholic and that there are things about the Jehovah's Witnesses I find troubling: their shunning, their negative attitude toward innocent celebrations. I mentioned that Jesus' first miracle was to keep a party going.

We talked a little more and I said I really admired the zeal of the JWs and mentioned how I also admire the Mormon boys who come knocking. "I'm sure you get plenty of doors slammed in your face," I said. He smiled and nodded.