Pope says the corrupt are worse than sinners

June 03, 2013 - Pope Francis on Monday said corrupt people are worse than sinners as they do much harm to the Church adoring themselves. Delivering a homily at Mass in the morning at the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, the Pope was reflecting on the day’s Gospel of the parable of the corrupt tenants who eventually kill the son of the vineyard owner to usurp the property. In this regard Pope spoke of saints, sinners and the corrupt. Saints, he said, are the light of the Church, while there is no need to talk much about sinners as “all of us are”. “And if there is someone among us who does not feel so, it is better for the person to see a spiritual doctor, as something is wrong,” the Pope said. The parable speaks to us about those who want to become the master of the vineyard and have lost their relationship with the owner – an owner who calls us with love, protects us and who gives us freedom, the Pope explained. These persons feel themselves strong and independent of God. By and by they have slipped into that independence from the relationship with God, as if we don’t need a master who comes to disturb us. These, the Pope said, were sinners like us all, but have gone a step ahead consolidating themselves in sin and don’t feel the need of God. In their genetic code they cannot deny the need of God, but instead create a special god – i.e. themselves. They are the corrupt, the Pope stressed, warning they are a danger for us in Christian communities. They think about their group saying it is for ‘us’, but in fact they are all out for themselves only. As an example, he pointed to Judas who was a sinner but who ended up in corruption. The road of independence is a dangerous road, the Pope said. The corrupt have forgotten the love with which the lord made the vineyard; they have become worshippers of the self. “How much harm these corrupt people do to Christian communities,” the Pope exclaimed, urging all to pray to the Lord for the grace of feeling ourselves truly sinners, the grace of not becoming corrupt. Talking about saints Pope Francis recalled Pope John XXIII whose 50th death anniversary occurred on Monday, June 3, considering him a model of holiness.