He has personally sent money to old women struggling on a
pension and to immigrants. He has personally called people who have written him
letters. Is Pope Francis now secretly sneaking out of the Vatican at night
to give money to the poor?
Find out after the page jump:
The speculation that he may be doing so arises from an
interview with Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, “Almoner of His Holiness” – a
little-known post that dates back to the 13th century that involves
distributing money from the Holy See to the poor and marginalized.
“When I say to him ‘I’m going out into the city this
evening’, there’s the constant risk that he will come with me,” said the Polish
prelate.
When asked directly if Pope Francis ever joined him on these
evening trips into the city, Archbishop Krajewski only smiled and said “Next
question, please.” Some take that as an implicit suggestion that the Holy
Father indeed is going incognito into the streets to give alms as he did while
Buenos Aires.
“That’s what he’s like – at the beginning (of his papacy) he
didn’t think of the awkwardness that he might create. As archbishop of Buenos
Aires, when he was known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future pontiff
“would go out at night . . . to find people, talk with them, or buy them
something to eat. He would sit with them and eat with them on the street. This
is what he wants from me,” Krajewski said.
Rumors of past Popes sneaking out of the Vatican are
plentiful, including the stories that Pope John XIII would sneak out to walk
and enjoy the beauty of Rome at night or that Pope Pius XII would dress as a
Franciscan during WWII to assist with efforts to smuggle Rome’s Jewish
population to safety.
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