Reuters: Pope, in Sermon, Says He Won’t Be Intimidated

Pope Benedict, facing one of the gravest crises of his pontificate as a sexual abuse scandal sweeps the Church, indicated on Sunday that his faith would give him the courage not to be intimidated by critics.

The 82-year-old pontiff led tens of thousands of people in a sunny St. Peter’s Square in a Palm Sunday service at the start of Holy Week events commemorating the last days in the life of Jesus.

While he did not directly mention the scandal involving sexual abuse of children by priests, parts of his sermon could be applicable to the crisis.

The pontiff said faith in God helps lead one “towards the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion.”

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Posted in * Christian Life / Church Life, * Religion News & Commentary, Other Churches, Parish Ministry, Pope Benedict XVI, Preaching / Homiletics, Roman Catholic

3 comments on “Reuters: Pope, in Sermon, Says He Won’t Be Intimidated

  1. Bookworm(God keep Snarkster) says:

    “The pontiff said faith in God helps lead one “towards the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion.””

    You go, Your Holiness!! And, we have you in our prayers. Meanwhile, would you care to blow a little of that towards Canterbury, too?!!

  2. rugbyplayingpriest says:

    And they wonder why the orthodox love him!

  3. evan miller says:

    God bless Benedict XVI. I pray for him every Sunday. He is a titan among pigmies. He will not be distracted by the yapping of the chattering classes as he goes about the work of cleaning house in the RCC.