We know that hypocrisy is a term used to describe the attitude of someone who says one thing but does another. As St. Thomas Aquinas mentions, he defines it as “a kind of fraud, which consists in feigning a virtue or a piety that one does not have” (II-II. Q.111.a1). This leads us to reflect on the authenticity and coherence between our words and actions.
In this sense, today we see religious and priests of the IVE praying for Pope Francis, a gesture that may seem to be one of charity and respect. However, there is a historical context that may change our perspective. The relationship between Cardinal Bergoglio and the founder, Carlos Buela, was one of enmity during his stay in Argentina.
In addition, for those who do not know, Buela circulated during the conclave a book among all the cardinals with the underlines of the same, since it referred to the then cardinal Bergoglio (The Church Betrayed, by Antonio Caponetto).
It is important to remember that hypocrisy can manifest itself in many ways and that the appearance of virtue or piety does not always reflect reality. In fact, those close to them will remember the expletives that came out of Buela in St. Peter’s Square on the day Bergoglio was elected pope. Carluncho quietly left the square after uttering some Argentine swearing, followed by his general advice of the moment. The same priests who the next day began to give orders to celebrate the new pontiff and to send missionary nuns to visit him in audiences, and to want to ingratiate themselves with him.
The figure of Buela began to hide from public invitations and young religious were only sent on Wednesdays to jump and shout “Long live the pope!” under his window.
Francis knew well who Buela was, but he had to maintain the missions throughout the world, at the request of the bishops who did not have vocations and saw in them a living missionary hope.
During his pontificate, the emotional fluctuations of the IVE with respect to Francis were several. At first, there was a great discomfort; In fact, among the priests (ad intra) they did not cease to criticize him and even mock everything he did and said. However, suddenly, in the face of allegations of sexual abuse against Buela and the mediation of Pope Francis to try to save Buela’s work, the leaders of the order saw in Francis the last hope before the disastrous reports of all the pontifical commissioners.
The workhorses would be the missionaries in emblematic missions, whom Francis would be called to authorize the public wake and the transfer of Buela’s remains to Argentina. Since then, although the IVE has very different lines from those of Francis, it has been necessary to disguise and begin to propagate the goodness of the Holy Father in all communities.
Of course, there is never time to read any encyclical or pontifical document; with Buela’s books in the good night and the sermons, they already have enough material. He must be encouraged publicly and before the religious students, but internally we all know who Francis is for the IVE.
In any case, today more than ever they should pray to God for the Holy Father. And in the midst of so much hypocrisy, if there is a sincere message, it is to hope that he recovers soon, since he has been the only one who has had patience with them and they know well that without his intervention they would have been closed a long time ago.
May God deliver us from the vice of hypocrisy.
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