Pope Francis, Pius X comparison

[JaMc]

I was reading a Wikipedia article, and it struck me that there were many similarities between Pope Francis’ humble style and Pope St. Pius X. For all the focus on St. Pius’ strict doctrinal orthodoxy, it seems to me that his humble, human, pastoral personal style has been somewhat forgotten. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pius_X

Like this:

His simple origins became clear right after his election, when he wore a pectoral cross made of gilded metal on the day of his coronation and when his entourage was horrified, the new pope complained that he always wore it and that he had brought no other with him.[12] He was well known for cutting down on papal ceremonies. He also abolished the custom of the pope dining alone (which had been established by Pope Urban VIII), and the pope invited his friends to eat with him.

He was also on one occasion chided by Rome’s social leaders for refusing to make his (Pius X’s) peasant sisters papal countesses, to which he responded ‘I have made them sisters of the pope; what more can I do for them?’[12]

He developed a reputation as being very friendly with children. He carried candy in his pockets for the street urchins in Mantua and Venice, and taught catechism to them. During papal audiences, he would gather children around him and talk to them about things that interested them.

and this:

His charity was extraordinary, filling the Apostolic Palace with refugees from the 1908 Messina earthquake, long before the Italian government began to act on its own.[7] He rejected any kind of favours for his family; his brother remained a postal clerk, his favourite nephew stayed on as village priest, and his three sisters lived together close to poverty in Rome.[7] He often referred to his own humble origins, taking up the causes of poor people. I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor.

What does everyone else think?

 

[Robyn_p]

Wow you’re right!!!

So Pope Francis ISN’T some radical after all

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[Edmundus1581]

Well done seeing the connection, and thanks for the post.

 

[thewanderer]

Wow you’re right!!!

So Pope Francis ISN’T some radical after all

Thanks for sharing!!

 

[msokeefe]

Would St Pius X allow Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi to receive communion?

 

[Sirach2]

Would St Pius X allow Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi to receive communion?

This? In such a beautiful thread about a Saint-Pope? Are you implying that Pope Francis allowed this … without a shred of proof?

 

[Sirach2]

Beautiful thread, JaMc! I remember this holy Pontiff was the one who lowered the age so younger children could receive the Eucharist. Maybe we’ll see similar sensitivities from Pope Francis. Saintly men who listen to God in prayer will always have the good of the Church foremost in their hearts.

 

[msokeefe]

lifenews.com/2013/03/20/pro-abortion-biden-and-pelosi-received-communion-at-mass-for-pope-francis/

http://img3.allvoices.com/thumbs/image/609/480/96911876-pope-francis.jpg

 

[Sirach2]

msokeefe >

It would seem that you are going to nitpick this to death. DId you see this in your link?
"Pope Francis did not administer the sacrament."

The only one admitting he received the Eucharist was Biden, and how reliable is that? Again, there were 500 priests who were disbursed through the 1,000,000 attendants at that liturgy, and certainly none of them would recognize Biden unless they were familiar with our news here in the States.

I think it is highly amiss to imply that Pope Francis gave him communion. The picture says he is charitable in receiving all men, even those you would label a sinner.

 

[Latinitas]

I originally posted this in the spirituality forum, but realized that it would probably be more appropriately placed here. I don’t know how to move threads, so I just reposted this. Thanks!

Hi CAF,

As a strong traditionalist, I have been somewhat concerned about what Francis has done in his pontificate (washing women’s feet at Holy Thursday). However, today I received consolation from the Holy Spirit and have come to draw an interesting comparison between our Holy Father, Pope Francis and Pope St. Pius X (r. 1903-1914). I know the media has been cheered by the election of Francis but I feel that that will not last for long. Here is my comparison:

Francis PP.: “I want a church by the poor and for the poor”
S. Pius PP. X: “I was born poor, I have lived poor, I wish to die poor”

Francis PP.: Cut down on papal ceremonial, including use of iron cross and wore white cassock and others.
S. Pius PP. X: Cut down on papal ceremonial, including use of gilded wooden cross rather than solid gold cross and other things.

Francis PP.: Washed women’s feet on Holy Thursday, horrifying some
S. Pius PP. X: Gave communion to four year old boy, horrifying some

Francis PP.: Expected to reform curia and liturgy, and church law
S. Pius PP. X: Reformed liturgy (Tra le sollecitudini), Curia (abolished Inquistion) and codified Canon Law.

Francis PP.: Comes from unexpected background, Argentina
S. Pius PP. X: Comes from unexpected background, poor

Francis PP.: Strong defender of Catholic moral teachings.
S. Pius PP. X: Strong defender of Catholic moral teachings.

Francis PP.: Known as compassionate and very kind.
S. Pius PP. X: Known as compassionate and very kind.

Francis PP.: Papacy followed an erudite scholar (Benedict XVI)
S. Pius PP. X: Papacy followed an erudite scholar (Leo XIII)

See Wikipedia for more

Let me make it clear. I do not believe Francis is an exact replica of Pius X. But I do believe that the similarities are hard to ignore. And since S. Pius X is praised much by traditionalists, I do believe that traditionalists can rest assured that Francis might actually prove to be a very beloved pope to them.

Ora pro me, ora pro papa
Latinitas

 

[McCall1981]

I originally posted this in the spirituality forum, but realized that it would probably be more appropriately placed here. I don’t know how to move threads, so I just reposted this. Thanks!

Very interesting, thanks!

 

[Genesis315]

This is from a 1910 issue of Collier’s about St. Pius X hosting athletic exhibitions in the Vatican (complete with acrobats):

Pius X, the kind, unaffected, peasant Pope, has removed many prejudices from the Vatican. One day, soon after his election, he invited his secretary to dinner and made him take a seat at his own table. “Your Holiness,” remonstrated an old master of ceremonies, struck with amazement at the innovation, “it is the custom for the Pope to dine by himself, in solitary grandeur!” “Well,” calmly asked the Pope, “and who established this custom?” “Urban VII, your Holiness, in the year 1590,” promptly answered the master of ceremonies. “Pius X abolished it to-day,” said the Pope, and his secretary, his three sisters and niece, and his old humble friends from Riesi and Venice have since dined at his table The members of the papal court, from the major-domo to the last bussolante or doorkeeper, object to these reforms and shake their heads in disapproval, but the Pope evidently overlooks silent opposition as he keeps on removing prejudices and traditions.

 

[Latinitas]

You beat me to it.

I just posted this, not seeing yours!

Benedicat Deus

 

[Latinitas]

This is from a 1910 issue of Collier’s about St. Pius X hosting athletic exhibitions in the Vatican (complete with acrobats):

Pius X, the kind, unaffected, peasant Pope, has removed many prejudices from the Vatican. One day, soon after his election, he invited his secretary to dinner and made him take a seat at his own table. “Your Holiness,” remonstrated an old master of ceremonies, struck with amazement at the innovation, “it is the custom for the Pope to dine by himself, in solitary grandeur!” “Well,” calmly asked the Pope, “and who established this custom?” “Urban VII, your Holiness, in the year 1590,” promptly answered the master of ceremonies. “Pius X abolished it to-day,” said the Pope, and his secretary, his three sisters and niece, and his old humble friends from Riesi and Venice have since dined at his table The members of the papal court, from the major-domo to the last bussolante or doorkeeper, object to these reforms and shake their heads in disapproval, but the Pope evidently overlooks silent opposition as he keeps on removing prejudices and traditions.

Great story! (No sarcasm)

 

[russet1]

Way cool!

 

[corsair]

Interesting!!! But time will tell. None of us know a lot about him. But pray for him, always.

 

[khuldar]

Interesting!!! But time will tell. None of us know a lot about him. But pray for him, always.

Agreed.

 

[Jimmygill88]

I don’t see much merit in allowing his sisters to remain in poverty.

 

[JaMc]

I don’t see much merit in allowing his sisters to remain in poverty.

I can see what you’re getting at. However, the Pope’s responsibility is to the entire Church. Would it have been right for him to use Church coffers to benefit his own family, when there were so many others out there in the same situation? I think it says something that he resisted the temptation to engage in nepotism.

 

[Cojuanco]

I can see what you’re getting at. However, the Pope’s responsibility is to the entire Church. Would it have been right for him to use Church coffers to benefit his own family, when there were so many others out there in the same situation? I think it says something that he resisted the temptation to engage in nepotism.

And remember, when previous Popes did this, little good came of it, and it created a sclerotic Papal court. St. Pius likely knew of this and did it to avoid setting a bad example.