(Vatican Radio) The lengthy cover piece dedicated to Pope Francis in the February
13 edition of the popular Rolling Stone magazine has made its way around the world.
The Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi SJ, praises
the article’s appearance, saying, “[The piece] is a sign of the attention that the
novelties of Pope Francis attract from many different quarters.”
Fr Lombardi
SJ goes on to say, “Unfortunately, the article disqualifies itself, falling into the
usual mistake of a superficial journalism, which, in order to shed light on the positive
aspects of Pope Francis, thinks it needs to describe the pontificate of Pope Benedict
in a negative way, and does so with a surprising crudeness.” Fr Lombardi SJ adds,
“This is not the way to do a good service even to Pope Francis, who knows very well
what the Church owes to his predecessor.”