Pope Francis: Vatican officials suffer from 'spiritual Alzheimer's'

In a searing speech to the Vatican bureaucracy on Monday, Pope Francis openly criticized his senior cardinals, bishops, and priests for a wide variety of "ailments," and expressed hope that they will atone for their sins and be cured in 2015.

In the speech, Pope Francis laid out "15 Ailments of the Curia" suffered by the church officials that run the Holy See, including indifference to others, existential schizophrenia, and spiritual Alzheimer's. (Read the full list of ailments at Vatican Insider.) "The Curia is called on to always improve itself and grow in communion, holiness, and knowledge to fulfill its mission," said Pope Francis. "But even it, as any human body, can suffer from ailments, dysfunctions, illnesses."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the extended critique wasn't particularly well-received by its targets. "The cardinals were not amused," reported the Associated Press.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up