The Popes are supposed to be men of God, compassionate and
understanding.
Instead, many were corrupt, kept mistresses, even a harem. Elections
were often rigged by bribery (simony).
One Pope (Benedict XI) was elected when he was just 11.
To get a feel for power, the Popes took on a number of titles like
‘Supreme Pontiff’, ‘Vicar of Christ’, ‘Successor of the Apostles’,
‘Primate of Italy’…
The worst acted more like ruthless politicians, making decisions on the
fate of distant peoples they had never seen.
POPE NICHOLAS V issued a bull (edict) around 1454 blatantly backing
conquest and dispossession – here is an extract:
“After careful deliberation, we have conceded to King Afonso (of
Portugal) the total and absolute right, to invade, conquer and subdue
all the countries under the
rule of the enemies of Christ, Muslim or pagan. We wish the said King ,
the Prince and their successors to occupy and possess exclusively the
said islands,
ports and seas…”
Here was the ‘Vicar of Christ’ openly sanctioning the subjugation of
non-Christian peoples by force and takeover of their lands.
The dissolute ALEXANDER VI (1492-1503) took it upon himself to
divide the New World between Spain and Portugal.
His bull of 1493 authorised “barbarous nations be invaded and brought to
the faith.”
This was the Pope who consorted with prostitutes and sired 10 children.
His successor, JULIUS II (1503-13) issued a bull granting the Spanish
Crown the right to collect all taxes in the Americas in perpetuity!
Between 1500 and 1660, 185,000 kg of gold and 16 million kg of silver
arrived in Spain.
The total European reserves quadrupled and contributed greatly to
Europe’s economic development. Reportedly
the dissolute ALEXANDER VI (1492-1503) used the first gold brought from
the Americas to decorate the ceiling of the Santa Maria Maggiore church.
LEO X (1513-21) was full of praise for Portugal’s conquests. He
presented a sword to King Manuel with the words:
“Receive this warlike sword in your victorious hands. With this, you
will wage under the most happy auspices…
May you use force and power against the fury of the infidels… and bring
back abundant spoils and triumphs.”
No question of rebuking the conquerors for theft.
Pope LEO XIII (1878-1903) wrote at a time when colonialism was in full
swing but he makes no mention of colonial atrocities.
Africans are described by LEO as “that wretched part of the human race”.
The teachings of Christ will “release it from the superstition and
misery
in which it has been mired for so long.” (Encyclical SA 1890, para 3).
Native Americans to LEO were barely human before the Europeans came.
It was the Europeans who raised them “from a state of blindness to the
common level of the human race, from savagery to gentleness and
humanity” (C4 1892, section 1).
These Native Americans are “a mighty multitude cloaked in miserable
darkness, given over to evil rites and the superstitious worship of vain
gods.
(They live) in a barbarous state and with savage manners; (and they)
lack the knowledge of the one true God.” (CA 1892, sect 4)
Hindus attract LEO's attention in NC 1893: here he lauds FRACIS XAVIER:
“he converted hundreds of thousands of Hindus from the myths and vile
superstitions of the Brahmans to the true religion...”
Writing to the American bishops (C4
1892), the Pope describes the exploits of COLUMBUS as
“this immortal achievement… the highest and grandest ever accomplished
by man…”
“The prestige of the Europe was marvellously increased…
Those countries hitherto uncultivated and inaccessible have made such
rapid strides in civilisation, wealth and fame…”
Not a word about the crimes of massacre and dispossession of the
natives.
The Europeans by the million were settling in the Americas after a
massive land grab.
LEO continues “The whole world is eager to celebrate the memory of the
event and glorify its
author.” Surely, he means the European world. Columbus is ours and the
propagation of the Catholic faith was his strongest motive for his
expedition …
(He had to) bear the sufferings (from) the adverse opinions of the
learned, fights with savages, criminal conspiracies…”.
In contrast to the Catholic Pope’s patently racist view, the US Council
of Churches on the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ trip condemned the
“discovery” as
“as invasion and colonization with legalized occupation, genocide,
economic exploitation, institutional racism and moral decadence.”
And called for “a year of repentance and reflection rather than
celebration.”
=========================================
Shouldn't we ashamed of these Catholic Popes and disown them?
Eddie
In contrast the Catholic
Pope’s patently racist view, the US Council
of Churches on the 500<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Columbus’ trip
condemned
the “discovery” as “as invasion and colonization with legalized
occupation, genocide, economic exploitation, institutional racism and
moral
decadence.” <o:p></o:p>
-------------------------------Eddie
