The Pope has been sneaking out at night...

[Executor32]

...to help the homeless:

Pope Francis Sneaks Out Of The Vatican At Night To Serve The Homeless
BY SCOTT KEYES ON DECEMBER 3, 2013 AT 10:58 AM
CREDIT: AP

The leader of the Catholic Church has been quietly sneaking out of the Vatican at night to minister to homeless residents, according to a new report.

“Swiss guards confirmed that the pope has ventured out at night, dressed as a regular priest, to meet with homeless men and women,” writes The Huffington Post.

The report hinted that Pope Francis had sneaked out of the enclave with Archbishop Konrad Krajewski. As Almoner of His Holiness, Krajewski is the Vatican’s point person on giving charity to the poor and visits the destitute nightly.

This isn’t the first time Pope Francis has earned attention and praise for his predilection to serve the needy. Just months after assuming the papacy, he invited nearly 200 homeless people to join him for dinner at the Vatican. He also deplored the plight of homeless people in the first apostolic exhortation of his papacy last week: “How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?”

Over the years, the Catholic Church has grown too “obsessed” with abortion, contraception, and gay marriage, Pope Francis argued in May, imploring followers instead to focus on combating trickle-down economics and the world of inequality it produces.

Pope Francis has also taken a more modest personal approach than his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, shedding gold-embroidered robes and an ornate golden throne for white threads and a wooden chair.

These pronouncements and actions have earned him the nickname “Pope of the Poor,” a fitting tribute to a man who assumed the name of Francis after the 13th century Saint who focused attention on the poor.

Of course, Pope Francis’s outreach to the homeless is also putting into practice what the Bible teaches about treating those less fortunate in society. Most famously is Matthew 25:40, where Jesus taught followers, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Most interesting, however, is the Pope’s decision to serve the homeless without fanfare. A press release from the Vatican about Pope Francis’ meetings with the homeless would have undoubtedly earned him media praise, but the fact that he chose to sneak out undercover suggests a more humble approach. Perhaps he was following the teachings of Matthew 6:2: “When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.” Instead, give discreetly, “Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Man, I'm liking this guy more and more, especially compared to Emperor Popeatine. If only the rest of the Catholic power structure would follow his example.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Same here, this guy keeps going up and up in my estimation. I'm actually starting to respect the Papacy. I think it's highly significant that he does this in secret which shows it's an actual conviction, not just a publicity exercise.

Good for you Francis. Keep up the good work.

[Borgholio]

As an Athiest, I always saw the Catholic Church as a poster-boy for what's wrong with organized religion. Extravagant wealth, no consideration for opposing religious, philosophical or personal viewpoints, etc...

But this...fuck me. Francis is actually starting to redeem the Church in my eyes.

[TheHammer]

Looks like the Dalai Lama has some competition for "most well-regarded" religious leader . Its somewhat sad that it's a "breath of fresh air" for a pope to actually follow the teachings of Christ in both deeds and actions.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Incidentally, I posted on Facebook that I rather like this new Pope and one of the Welshmen commented that I'm "getting more reactionary by the day." I have no idea how to respond to that.

[Eternal_Freedom]

And ironically enough I'm now playing devil's advocate and defending the new Pope. This day is getting weirder and weirder.

[Borgholio]

It's all part of his Cunning Plan™. He is buttering up the world and making us love him, so he can turn right around and launch the second Spanish Inquisition and the 10th Crusade all at once.

[Eternal_Freedom]

It's all part of his Cunning Plan™. He is buttering up the world and making us love him, so he can turn right around and launch the second Spanish Inquisition and the 10th Crusade all at once.

The scary part is my opponents in this particular discussion would not find that surprising.

[Executor32]

Hey, at least you're not a dirty Welshman.

[Eternal_Freedom]

Hey, at least you're not a dirty Welshman.

Something I give eternal thanks for. Unfortunately I live in Wales so I can't really avoid them.

[KlavoHunter]

This has to be some sort of stunt. On the other hand, it is in line with most everything else he's been doing...

[Simon_Jester]

Klavo, if it were some sort of stunt, why would it have been kept secret until now?

[Mr Bean]

Klavo, if it were some sort of stunt, why would it have been kept secret until now?

More importantly he did this before when he was not the pope, the only thing that's changed is his need to go in disguise.

Because you know... he's the pope now.

[Channel72]

As an Athiest, I always saw the Catholic Church as a poster-boy for what's wrong with organized religion. Extravagant wealth, no consideration for opposing religious, philosophical or personal viewpoints, etc...

Nah... the Catholic Church is actually the coolest version of Christianity. Well... except for the child molestation stuff, covering up the child molestation stuff, the Crusades, the Inquisition, Galileo, banning contraception, um... nevermind.

Well, whatever, they're a lot better than the Evangelicals. At least the Catholic Church pays lip-service to evolution instead of outright ignoring science. Plus, they have real taste in terms of architecture, unlike evangelicals who literally build the most boring fucking churches in the world. And if I have to sit through a sermon, at least do it in Latin and spray some incense or something so it's interesting.

But seriously, the Catholic Church sucks in many ways, but at least they emphasize serving the poor, unlike the bizarre ways American Evangelicals twist Christianity to serve some weird capitalist agenda.

[KlavoHunter]

Klavo, if it were some sort of stunt, why would it have been kept secret until now?

Because the "sudden revelation" that the Pope has been performing vigilante acts of ministering in the dead of night in disguise after giving the Swiss Guard the slip until now sounds even more too-good-to-be-true?

[Agent Fisher]

Giving the Swiss Guard the slip? Highly unlikely. More likely they had a couple in plain clothes and went with him to keep him safe while he did his ministering.

[FSTargetDrone]

Josh Romney (son of Mitt) could learn something from him.

[Grumman]

Josh Romney (son of Mitt) could learn something from him.

More like Josh Romney's critics could. Namely: quit being shitheads.

[Alyrium Denryle]

Klavo, if it were some sort of stunt, why would it have been kept secret until now?

Because the "sudden revelation" that the Pope has been performing vigilante acts of ministering in the dead of night in disguise after giving the Swiss Guard the slip until now sounds even more too-good-to-be-true?

No. He did the same thing before he was pope. Complete with being Incognito. There have been suspicions and questions about him doing this for a good while now, especially given that he has been sending out squads of the swiss guard to do the same thing for months.

The obvious conclusion is that enough people have recognized him in public that he just cant say "I have no idea what you are talking about" anymore.

[FSTargetDrone]

Josh Romney (son of Mitt) could learn something from him.

More like Josh Romney's critics could. Namely: quit being shitheads.

Hardly. One man is going about his business helping unfortunates, quietly and without fanfare. The other had his picture taken at an accident scene in the middle of a private home grinning like a stooge while posing with a wrecked vehicle like some big game hunter with an elephant he's just bagged, tweeting about what he's done. Someone who does a good deed needn't broadcast that fact.

[Irbis]

Klavo, if it were some sort of stunt, why would it have been kept secret until now?

To quieten voices saying it's just a stunt?

Anyway, I really wonder how exactly he disguises himself, seeing the Pope is kind of famous in Rome and he would be IMHO recognized even in normal robes. That said, for all his attempts to focus on the poor, it's his attempts to reform the Vatican Bank and create a parliament of sorts that are really important right now, as they would most likely stay under his successors.

Plus, they have real taste in terms of architecture, unlike evangelicals who literally build the most boring fucking churches in the world.

But seriously, the Catholic Church sucks in many ways, but at least they emphasize serving the poor, unlike the bizarre ways American Evangelicals twist Christianity to serve some weird capitalist agenda.

Good thing you didn't saw some churches in Poland. Though I agree on second part.

[Ekiqa]

As an Athiest, I always saw the Catholic Church as a poster-boy for what's wrong with organized religion. Extravagant wealth, no consideration for opposing religious, philosophical or personal viewpoints, etc...

But this...fuck me. Francis is actually starting to redeem the Church in my eyes.

One guy going against the establishment shouldn't change your opinion of the whole system.

Like how having a black president immediately eliminated racial discrimination in the US.

[Broomstick]

The thing is, the pope isn't just "one guy", he's the pope - his impact on the Catholic Church is likely to be much more important than that of any other priest. Does that mean he'll fix all flaws? Of course not - but he could wind up making a substantial improvement in some areas.

[Flagg]

Josh Romney (son of Mitt) could learn something from him.

More like Josh Romney's critics could. Namely: quit being shitheads.

Hardly. One man is going about his business helping unfortunates, quietly and without fanfare. The other had his picture taken at an accident scene in the middle of a private home grinning like a stooge while posing with a wrecked vehicle like some big game hunter with an elephant he's just bagged, tweeting about what he's done. Someone who does a good deed needn't broadcast that fact.

Well on the bright side for Josh Romney he has a new picture to add to the "I Lost In 2032" photobook.

[Grumman]

More like Josh Romney's critics could. Namely: quit being shitheads.

Hardly. One man is going about his business helping unfortunates, quietly and without fanfare. The other had his picture taken at an accident scene in the middle of a private home grinning like a stooge while posing with a wrecked vehicle like some big game hunter with an elephant he's just bagged, tweeting about what he's done. Someone who does a good deed needn't broadcast that fact.

You should care more that Romney helped some unfortunates than that he took the photo. Helping people is the important part, not not taking credit for it.