White Smoke

[Pat Mustard]

My assessment of the new pope is that he's the boring one. He is not as stupid as Benedict or as charismatic as Francis, but he is more of a quiet guy sitting in the back of the classroom.

When it comes to catholic priests and monks, they're the ones to be especially bums to the wall about.

[Fake Messiah]

Time for Trump to buy the papacy

Pope Leo looks to MAGA megadonors to shore up Church finances

The new American pope is looking to his MAGA compatriots to shore up the Vatican’s finances after decades of scandal and mismanagement.

Despite the Vatican’s vaults of priceless masterpieces, Leo has ascended to the papal throne amid a steepening liquidity crisis aggravated by a major downturn in donations from the U.S., making it increasingly difficult for the city state to function.

A boost to donations is desperately needed. According to Reuters, the latest internal figures show the Vatican ran a deficit of €83 million in 2024, more than double the €38 million reported in its last-published financial report in 2022.

Donors from the U.S., the number one contributing country, were put off by Francis’ more liberal teachings on LGBTQ+ and marriage as well as corruption scandals including a botched investment by the Vatican’s top financial institution in London real estate, said John Yep, president of Catholics for Catholics, a conservative NGO.

Leo has signaled a willingness to address traditionalist priorities, drawing particular praise for his decision to move back to the original papal residence from his predecessor’s basic lodgings, as well as for his penchant for singing in Latin.

This year’s conclave also happened to coincide with an annual Vatican fundraising jamboree known as “America Week,” a week of lavish Rome parties, that saw €1 billion committed to the Vatican should the “right pope” be elected.

The upshot is — theoretically — more money from across the pond.

“American philanthropists want to see that so they will open up their coffers again,” said Yep.

Electing Leo “was a very smart choice because they absolutely need the American money. The church is in a terrible position financially,” said the Catholic leader in the U.S.

https://www.politico.eu/article/pope-leo...servative/

[zebo-the-fat]

The church has billions in property, art and treasure and they want even more?

[The Grand Nudger]

Fuck god eh john, it's all about the benjamins.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I'm sure the kiddie-fucking issue has nothing to do with any drop-off ...

[Fireball]

I'd like to gouge the remainder of that morally bankrupt entity's wealth in aid of compensation for the abused.

[Fake Messiah]

Robert moves to his colder castle as those in Rome get stuffy during summer.





But he would be a bad supposed Jesus apostle, as it is difficult to imagine how he could follow Jesus around in Palestinian deserts when the heat of Rome's castles is unbearable for him.