Pope Francis to live in Vatican guesthouse, not papal apartments

cns ^ | March 26, 2013 | Cindy Wooden

[NYer]

Ping!

[txrefugee]

Why not a room at the Italian version of the Motel 6? This well-publicized poverty bit is beginning to look contrived and ridiculous.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Our current POTUS could learn a lot from the new Pope.

But he and his family never will.

[married21]

I would do the same. I dearly loved living in the dorms at college. After growing up in a quiet home, it was heaven to have so many friends just down the hall. I hope this works out well for Pope Francis.

[steve86]

I keep getting this mental picture of an ascetic monk.

[knarf]

I don't know ... I'm trying to visualize/imagine this.

Here I am, a "plebe" so to speak, walking around and I meet what was once my Pope ... what do I do with the conflict of my thoughts ?

No offense, but is he now my Pope in law or something ?

[bunkerhill7]

I`ll bet he`ll pay the rent, too.
What? No swimming pool, jacuzzi, weight room, pool table or continental breakfast?

[KarlInOhio]

Although I appreciate his desire for simplicity, living away from his staff and working location seems like it would cause some difficulty. It would be like the President deciding he liked sleeping across the street at Blair House instead of in the White House.

The rooms all have telephones and access to an international satellite television system.

Since Vatican City is a separate country from Italy, wouldn't a set of rabbit ears be an "international television system"? :-)

[albie]

He’s the Jimmy Carter of the Vatican

[steve86]

Maybe let Benedict move back into the empty papal apartment.

[PapaBear3625]

Why not a room at the Italian version of the Motel 6? This well-publicized poverty bit is beginning to look contrived and ridiculous.

Excessive humbleness can be another form of vanity. Especially PUBLIC humbleness.

[KarlInOhio]

Why not a room at the Italian version of the Motel 6? This well-publicized poverty bit is beginning to look contrived and ridiculous.

He seems like my grandfather. No matter where he was sitting, even an uncomfortable folding chair, when someone offered him a better seat he would always say "No, I'm good right here." Sometimes we would have to make sure the comfy chair was the only one available when he came in.

[married21]

In the LA archdiocese, Cardinal Mahoney needed a whole house for himself, in his retirement, when he is not even doing anything, and after his scandals cost so much of our money.

by contrast, I think Francis’ inclination to be with other people, and use facilities that are already there and ready, is a welcome contrast.

Also, I suspect he will find out a lot about what is really going on at the Vatican in the dining hall. When I was working as an attorney, it was very enlightening to have lunch with the clerks and mail room people sometimes.

[mortal19440]

Ditto!

[Alex Murphy]

Why not a room at the Italian version of the Motel 6? This well-publicized poverty bit is beginning to look contrived and ridiculous.

You wouldn't think that "well-publicized" and "poverty" would go together. My theory is that the unused funds are going towards even more publicity.

[Alex Murphy]

He’s the Jimmy Carter of the Vatican

I'm going to have to steal that.

[trisham]

I would do the same. I dearly loved living in the dorms at college. After growing up in a quiet home, it was heaven to have so many friends just down the hall. I hope this works out well for Pope Francis.

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Interesting. I guess it's very possible that Pope Francis may be accustomed to having people around him, just as you said.

If he's happier where he is, I have no problem with this at all.

[Safetgiver]

Why not a room at the Italian version of the Motel 6? ....He didn’t want to cheat his kids from a $378,000 stay in Jamaica?...Oh, wait...