No to 'Marites': Pope Francis reminds Vatican officials to avoid backstabbing, gossiping
The Pope isn't fond of "Mariteses" among holy men. Francis reminded Vatican officials to avoid backstabbing and gossiping against each other this Christmas.
In his annual Christmas greeting, the pontiff said prelates should instead speak well of one another and undertake a humble examination of their own consciences, CBS News reported.
"A church community lives in joyful and fraternal harmony to the extent that its members walk in the life of humility, renouncing evil thinking and speaking ill of others," he said. "Gossip is an evil that destroys social life, sickens people's hearts and leads to nothing. The people say it very well: Gossip is zero."
The pope has spoken about gossiping and backstabbing before, in which closed environments like the Vatican see such incidents but are rarely aired in public.
Francis has long called for direct and open debates, even his own work.
But he has asked critics to tell it to his face.
As for the Vatican's lay employees, Francis turned less critical.
"If you have any particular problems, tell your bosses, we want to resolve them," he said. "You do this with dialogue, not by keeping quiet. Together we'll try to resolve the difficulties."
Francis was apparently alluding to reports of growing unease within the Vatican workforce that has been called out by the Association of Vatican Lay Employees, a labor union of sorts.
The association has sounded the alarm about the Vatican pension system's health and concerns about even more cost-cutting. It has demanded the Vatican leadership to listen to workers' concerns, per CBS News.
Earlier this year, 49 employees of the Vatican Museums, the Holy See's main source of revenue, filed a class-action lawsuit in the Vatican tribunal amid labor woes, overtime, and working conditions.
Unlike Italy, which has strong labor laws, the Vatican has a few legal recourses for workers.
But Italian Catholics prefer employment at the Vatican not only for the sense of service to the church but also its tax-free benefits and access to below-market housing, according to CBS News.
Francis also thanked the association for its service, urging members to ensure taking time to play with their children and visit their grandparents.
His past Christmas addresses to Vatican officials have been critical.
In 2014, Francis warned prelates against using their Vatican careers to grab power and wealth. He called out those who are having "hypocritical" double lives and "spiritual Alzheimer's" as joyful men of God.
In 2022, he warned about an "elegant demon" who lurks around and works in people who have a rigid, holier-than-thou way of living the Catholic faith.
