Pope Francis: "Prison Is a Basilica" and "Criminals Are Good"
Francis opened a 'Holy Door' in the Roman prison of Rebibbia on Thursday, one of the largest prison complexes in Italy.
Not surprisingly, it was the first time that such a door had been opened by a pope in a prison. The other four Holy Doors are in papal basilicas in Rome.
After visiting the prison, Francis stopped the car to speak to journalists: "The inmates are good people. When I come here, the first question I ask myself is: why them and not me, because any of us can slip."
And, "The first Holy Door I opened was in St Peter's, the second in this Basilica. Today the prison has become a basilica and that is why I came here. This is the second Basilica. It is a very important gesture for me. We have to think that many of them are not the big shots."
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If inmates are hired in St. Peter's Basilica and it becomes a branch of a prison, then the prison can become a Basilica (this should roughly be the distorted concept)
"A un passo dal Paradiso". Il detenuto di Rebibbia che lavora nella Cupola di San Pietro
Quote (emphasis added): "It is a very important gesture for me. We have to think that many of them are not the big shots." Pure Marxism. Inciting "class envy" of lawbreakers against the law-abiding. "The inmates are good people. When I come here, the first question I ask myself is: why them and not me." Well, they transgressed, but maybe you have too "holy father." [note whiff of Luther/Calvin - totally depravity of all men.
@Orthocat Actually, I think he may have been referring to many of the prison inmates as not being “the big shots” as meaning they are not the criminal kingpins and masterminds, the heads of criminal syndicates or mafia families, or drug lords ruling over the proliferation of unimaginable quantities of illicit substances all over the world, or even those who sit atop the leadership structure of corporate crime in the business and financial sectors of society. In other words, those persons to whom he reached out during this venture are simply the “peons” or drudges or foot soldiers of crime, the low-level or bottom-of-the-totem pole criminals, who do not possess, own, control, nor manage the massive resources and operational apparatus required to initiate, create, build and maintain the major pillars and sources of criminality at such a high level as we see and experience it in most of the so-called civilized world; and thus, are not fully responsible for the wholesale destruction and utter chaos that criminal pathologies wreak upon entire communities and even nations, adversely impacting mankind throughout the globe. So I don’t think he was exactly or explicitly referring to “class” divisions per se or economic stratification of any kind whatsoever, nor do I believe he was attempting to engender “class envy” or incite class warfare with his remark. The context of his usage of the phrase “the big shots” implies a connotation of leadership, oversight and control, one that is entirely different and distinct from your interpretation, my friend. And a Merry and Holy Christmas to you and your family.
Good explanation of the expression ''big shots'' by SonoftheChurch, I didn't catch it when I quickly read the article.
I think Orthocat has also a point about ''the inmates are good people''. Francis defines them as a class, probably a better one than some others (e.g. conservative Catholics).
Many criminals are gathered in these enclosures. Beyond that, I don't know much about Italian prisons, but usually, a lot of sexual sins are committed in prisons. Now let's combine that with this quote from Francis the False Prophet: No, I have never denied the Eucharist to anyone, to anybody!
Oh, and Judas is saved.
I have no issues with visiting prisoners who are repentant or exhorting those who need to be {a corporal work of mercy}. One publication I receive Dedicated Decades from the Universal Living Rosary includes letters form men in prison who are trying the best they can to live a faithful life - despite their circumstances. But Francis just can't resist the urge to 'virtue signal' and imply subtly that he much prefers sinners to saintly Church people.