Pope Francis, battling a cold ahead of an arduous Christmas schedule and the launch of the Vatican's Holy Year, delivered a scathing critique of gossip and internal tensions within the Vatican bureaucracy. His annual Christmas address on Saturday to the Curia, the administrative body of the Catholic Church, underscored his ongoing campaign for humility and transparency among his closest collaborators.
"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," Francis 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, who turned 88 this week, appeared wheezing and congested during the address, prompting the Vatican to announce that his traditional outdoor Sunday blessing would be delivered indoors due to his health and the cold weather. Despite his condition, Francis emphasized the gravity of internal discord within the Vatican. "Beware of this," he added, urging his audience to confront conflicts openly rather than resorting to backstabbing.
Francis' critique was a continuation of his tradition of using the annual Christmas address as an opportunity to call out the sins and shortcomings within the Vatican. In previous years, he accused the Curia of spiritual complacency, careerism, and hypocrisy, famously describing "spiritual Alzheimer's" in 2014 and warning of an "elegant demon" within the Church in 2022.
This year's address also included a reflection on global conflicts, with a poignant mention of the war in Gaza. "Yesterday children have been bombed. This is cruelty, this is not war," Francis said, lamenting the destruction and suffering caused by the ongoing conflict.
The Pope's remarks came at the start of what promises to be a physically demanding holiday season. On Christmas Eve, Francis will inaugurate the Vatican's Holy Year, or Jubilee, expected to draw 32 million pilgrims to Rome in 2025. His schedule includes Christmas Mass at St. Peter's Basilica and a visit to a Roman prison to launch the Jubilee celebrations.
Despite the heavy workload, Francis remains committed to his mission of pastoral care and administrative reform. After his address to the Curia, he delivered a more conciliatory message to Vatican lay employees and their families, thanking them for their service and urging them to prioritize their families. "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."
The remarks were seen as an acknowledgment of growing discontent within the Vatican workforce. The Association of Vatican Lay Employees, akin to a labor union, has raised concerns about the sustainability of the Vatican pension system and potential cost-cutting measures. Earlier this year, 49 employees of the Vatican Museums filed a class-action lawsuit citing poor working conditions, unpaid overtime, and other grievances.
While the Vatican offers tax-free benefits and access to affordable housing, its employees often face fewer legal protections than their counterparts in Italy. This disparity has fueled frustrations among workers, who rely on the Holy See's goodwill to address systemic issues.
As Francis navigates these challenges, his health remains a point of concern. The Pope has struggled with bronchitis and other respiratory issues, exacerbated by the winter months. In 2023, he required hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics. Despite these setbacks, Francis has shown resilience, maintaining a grueling schedule and addressing sensitive issues within the Church.
