My, what a difference a month makes.
Why it was just last month that Pope Francis was luxuriating in criticism. He called it “an honor” when he was ‘attacked’ by Americans.
You see there were these four idols, that the Vatican called “Indigenous symbols of life” which translated to English is “idols”. Well, just the other day a couple of faithful Catholics quietly entered a Catholic Church in Rome where some Amazonian fertility idols had been enshrined. Long story short, the men took the idols and threw them in the Tiber River. Video of the action:
In response, the Vatican’s editorial director, Andrea Tornielli, got his vestments all in a bunch and decried the removal of the idols, “In the name of tradition and doctrine, an effigy of maternity and the sacredness of life was dumped in contempt,” Tornielli said the incident was a “violent and intolerant gesture”, which violence the video failed to capture. Tornielli said that the thieves had “passed from hate on social media to action”. He said it was shocking that one conservative Catholic website headlined its story on the theft “Justice is Served.” Tornielli added, “Atsa my idols you a throwing in da Tiber.“
Pope Francis, commenting aboard the Papal Jet on his way to Monaco said, “OK. you can stop honoring me now.”