Leaders of the Church have often been Narcissus, flattered and sickeningly excited by their courtiers. The court is the leprosy of the papacy.

The investigation of U.S. seminaries for 'evidence of homosexuality' continues the pattern of smoke-screening the church leaders have employed since the clergy child abuse crisis began. Why not look instead for evidence of cowardice, secrecy and dishonesty -- the traits displayed by so many bishops who magnified the crisis into a public scandal?

We must not reduce the bosom of the universal church to a nest protecting our mediocrity.

There is a danger that threatens everyone in the church, all of us. The danger of worldliness. It leads us to vanity, arrogance and pride.

There is a need for financial reform along ethical lines that would produce in its turn an economic reform to benefit everyone. This would nevertheless require a courageous change of attitude on the part of political leaders.

Since many of you do not belong to the Catholic Church and others are non-believers, from the bottom of my heart I give this silent blessing to each and every one of you, respecting the conscience of each one of you but knowing that each one of you is a child of God.