Sigh. Pope Leo’s first sermon…

[CurlewKate]

“"A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,"

I don’t know why I expected anything different. Maybe because he likes Wordle?

You're equating atheists with people who have sold their souls to materialism, selfishness, egotism, worship of money and power, and other ills.

I think what he's saying is a bit rich given religion has underpinned so many of the instances of "the neglect of mercy and appalling violations of human dignity£

It was done in the service of dialectical materialism, which includes militant atheism as a significant tenet. Militant atheism in the Soviet context resulted in the confiscation of church property, the persecution of clergy and believers, and decades of propaganda positioning religious belief and believers as the enemies of progress, science, and prosperity.

Yes to this.

Again, that is not what he said. You are taking his words, twisting them, and then clutching your pearls based on your incorrect, imagined interpretation of his words.

I’m not twisting his words-I am quoting them.

The direct quote is here - A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.

You have put your own interpretation on this.

He never made the blanket statement that "people without faith are more likely to behave in certain ways".
He qualified his remarks with the word "often", it's an opinion, not a statement of fact.

What a strange post

I have read the sermon. And given my interpretation of each section.

Feel free to read the sermon and post it here with your interpretation of each section

It doesn't need any "interpretation".

It's already been translated from Italian to (plain)English.

I don't know why people are looking for stuff that isn't there.

And failed to mention that having faith is " often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society"

Why mention "people lacking faith" when "people having faith" often have the same behaviours mentioned in his sentence?

If someone said "people in other groups often have particularly negative behaviours", whilst not mentioning that people in the group they belong to also have the same negative behaviours, then they would be called out on that as well.

By interpretation, I mean read the text and add what you think each paragraph means.

But I think you knew that.

And clearly if it's in plain English, you would easily be able to explain what you think each section means.

So why not precis his sermon and give a summary of what he was trying to say.

An executive summary.

I'm not sure what you mean by "an executive summary"?

I really don't know what you want from this discussion. it seems that nothing anyone says sits right with you.

If you have an issue with what the Holy Father says then ignore it.

I've read the sermon, looked at each paragraph, and explained what I think each paragraph means.

You have criticised my interpretation.

So an executive summary just means, read the sermon - it's about 2 pages, and then give a brief one paragraph summary of what the sermon means. For the executive who hasn't got time to read a 2 page report.

https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/full-text-first-public-homily-pope-leo-xiv

@cakeorwine "Why mention "people lacking faith" when "people having faith" often have the same behaviours mentioned in his sentence?"

Because people "having faith" should know better and behave better (in theory), people having no faith shouldn't be held to the same standards.

Like I said - read the whole sermon and then summarise it in a paragraph with what you think the sermon was about.

I have my interpretation of that sermon. I suspect it's different from yours.

Why do you need me to do this?

Do you not trust your own comprehensive skills?.

"I have my interpretation of that sermon. I suspect it's different from yours"
Fine by me.

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, why are you so bothered about it?

I trust my comprehensive skills - but you don't seem to agree with my interpretion

So I would be interested to see what you think the sermon is about?

This is what people object to. That people of faith should know better. The so called Christian values, which are just everyday and society’s values really. My MIL claims my children have Christian values and evidences that with them being nice 🙄I don’t really see much difference in what the pope says to what my MIL says.

The Holy Father prayed that his historic papacy can help the Catholic Church be a beacon illuminating "the dark nights of this world".

He reflected in his words what he wanted the Church to look like under his papacy and added: "God has entrusted this treasure to me."

The pontiff also said: There are settings "where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth";
He said there are contexts where "believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied";
The pontiff said sometimes Jesus is "reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman";
He also said that he knew he could rely on everyone in the chapel to "walk with him".

Well - I am sure some people who have read that executive summary would think you've missed some key stuff out about "conversions" and what he said about people who lacked faith and those who had faith but who were practical atheists.

I’ve just read the sermon.
I think there are a few veiled messages there. He speaks about the patrimony of the Church (which I believe is a hint that he’s not going to be advocating for women priests). In terms of the “loss of meaning of life” I think he’s referring to the rise of consumerism and commercialism. I often feel this at Christmas and actually it can be quite depressing ( ps of course I love decorations/giving gifts/delicious food/family but it can be so much more enriching if one’s gone to midnight mass and sung carols in the candlelight and felt a sense of mysticism.
The crisis of the family/neglect of mercy is presumably the high rates of divorce/older people not being looked after well. In terms of the violations of human dignity, I believe he’s specifically referring to abortion and euthanasia-ie that human life is sacred.

You asked for a precis - and I've given you one.

I have no control what others think of it.

Baffling that people think that the pope should rock up on his first day and give a speech about how Catholics are no better than anyone who doesn't believe in God.

If he believed that, then he wouldn't be pope.