This seems to be tempting fate:
Go here to read the rest. PopeWatch has long viewed Vatican security as a bad joke, a relic of a bygone era when having armed guards in colorful uniforms was considered adequate security. However, Pope Francis has made it clear that he has no concern for his security. It is impossible to protect a public figure unwilling to allow even elemetary precautions to safeguard not only his life, but those around him.
St Francis, in his zeal, went into the camp, and his life was spared by the wondering Sultan. Perhaps he had Angelic protection.
However the Four protomartyrs of his order lost their heads.
Saint Francis always wanted to die a martyr’s death. What is admirable in a saint is dereliction of duty, unless absolutely the last resort, in a pope.
St Francis may have learned prudence on that trip – he never went back.
ISIL Want to Assassinate the Pope, Says Iraq’s Ambassador to Vatican
No surprise here “Jihadists from ISIL have in recent weeks boasted of wanting to extend their caliphate to Rome, the heart of Western Christendom, and have talked of planting the jihadist black flag on top of St Peter’s Basilica.”
See http://www.aina.org/news/20140916180441.htm
The Pope needs to bring in somebody from Israel to reorganize his security. Those folks know how to handle Islamic terrorists!
Donald,
This is not a counterpoint or even a counter argument about Pope Francis, his security and ‘dereliction of duty’ however it is still worth reflection.
According to the tradition found in apocryphal writings called the Acts of Peter, Peter was on his way south on the Via Apia, Appian Way, fleeing the persecution of Roman Christians at the time of Nero. He had heeded the counsel of advisers that it was better to be safe and continue the Lord’s work. Just outside the southern gates of Rome he saw the vision of the Risen Christ, he cried out, “Quo vadis Domine?” “Where are you going, Lord?” To which he heard the reply, “Romam vado iterum crucifigi” [I am going to Rome to be crucified again].
To be honest I too wish that Pope Francis would take more precautions, etc however, I first of all recognize the principle of Jesuit spirituality at work which is a ‘holy indifference’ [having nothing to do with either apathy or foolhardiness] in which one’s trust in God is so fundamental that one is at peace in whatever happens to oneself, viewing it all with the eyes of faith. And needless to say, I have no idea, nor does anyone else, whether or not Pope Francis has had a Quo Vadis experience like Peter.
I know the Pope is supposed to encourage prayer, but I don’t think this is the way to do it!
“Just outside the southern gates of Rome he saw the vision of the Risen Christ, he cried out, “Quo vadis Domine?” “Where are you going, Lord?” To which he heard the reply, “Romam vado iterum crucifigi” [I am going to Rome to be crucified again].”
I love that legend Botolph and it was given an admirable treatment in Quo Vadis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Wmmt5LQT4
However, I think Popes are usually better advised to adopt the running away of Peter after the last supper which allowed him to have the longest reign of any Pope. Today, of course, when a Pope is cavalier about security he endangers not only his own life but that of his entourage. This is not new with Pope Francis. I think all modern popes have been too lax with security, and his laxness almost cost John Paul II his life.
Pray as if everything depended on God. Plan security as if everything depended on man.