City Safari: Pope Francis, the TLM and other changes By Thom Nickels Contributing Editor
seemingly small break with tradition was the first red flag signaling that the new pope he radical handwriting was a liturgical modernist. was on the wall when Another red flag occurred Jorge Mario Bergoglio, during Francis’ inaugural the Cardinal-Archbishop of Mass. At that Mass, FranBuenos Aires, was elected to cis’ vestments were noticethe papacy in 2013. ably plain. Not just plain, At his first address to the but ostentatiously plain. His crowds in St. Peter’s Square white miter, decorated with as Francis I, he had refused to a simple red cross, matched wear the papal mozzetta. This the miter he wore when of-
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ficiating at puppet and Tango Masses in Argentina. Kneeling among Armenian rite bishops in their bejeweled tall miters during a prayer service before the crypt of St. Peter, Francis seemed to be making a show of his preference for “simplicity.” The new pope very quickly won the world’s admiration when it was reported that he paid his own hotel bill after
the conclusion of the papal conclave. Non-Catholics who never noticed a pope before were now paying strict attention. Many saw Francis’ emphasis on simplicity as a saintly attribute, especially when he chose not to live in the papal palace but in the Vatican apartments. He was very quickly dubbed the “People’s Pope.” In 2014, the “People’s
Center City Philadelphia's Community Newspaper
Pope Francis. Courtesy of Wikipedia
Pope” fired Colonel Daniel Rudolf Anrig, 42, head of October 20, 2021 the Swiss Guards, “for being overly strict and autocratic.” Reports stated how the pope ordered a Swiss Guard who had been standing outside his apartment all night to sit down. When the guard said it was against orders, Francis replied, “I give the orders around here!” and then promptly went out to get the guard a cup of coffee. Paying your own hotel bill and getting an overworked Swiss Guard a cup of coffee are ‘feel good’ stories that make up only a small part of this immensely complicated man. Ironically, over time Francis An open art competition: Emmasonictemple.org/open-artwould prove to be as authoribodying Masonic Values competition-2021/ . tarian as the head of the Swiss The Museum received 34 Guard whom he fired and rehistoric Philadelphia entries for this year’s contest. placed. That authoritarianism landmark, the Masonic Both amateur and professional would manifest itself slowly Temple, located at One artists were invited to submit at first, finally climaxing in North Broad Street, includes entries. his July 16, 2021 Motu Proprio an expansive library and muAll artwork had to display restricting the celebration of seum collection connected to a visual interpretation of the Traditional Latin Mass, Freemasonry. some aspect of Freemasonry AQUARIUM the ancient liturgy of the RoThe Museum is hosting in Pennsylvania, whether it man rite that the annual Grand Exhibition, be philosophical, historical, Pirates are was replaced by a more Protestant-friendly which is FREE and open to scientific, social, fraternal, back in Philaservice in 1970 after the Secthe public, Tuesdays – Saturcharitable, architectural, etc. delphia after days, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Categories included: oil, three- Works on view. Courtesy of the Masonic Temple. aond 300Vatican year ab-Council. It is Brooker, painter; and Elaine $1,000 Best in Show prize. Oct. 5 – 30 in the lower-level dimensional, drawing and sence. not unheard of for a dining room. Masks are opprintmaking, water-based me- Erne, artist/teacher. ...pope to get involved in political issues. Pope John Paul Awards were $200 per winWinners are as follows: tional but proof of vaccination dium and digital imagery. II’s alliance with Poland’s ner, per category; the $500 BEST OF SHOW: “Safety is required. The artwork can The jurors were Travis Lech Walesa, Page 5founder of the Grand Master’s prize; and the also be viewed at https://pa- Simpkins, artist; Moe A. continued on page 6 Solidarity movement, did SPORTS much to end Communism there. Pope Benedict XVI was 17-year-old outspoken Coco Gauff on the dangers of Islam and even had a priwill join forces for re-entrants, and implevate meeting with (the now with 40-yearmented a temporary reprieve deceased) Italian journalist old Venus program. By Natalie Kapustik Oriana Fallaci, author of the Williams... “My administration has The Center Square bestseller, “The Rage and The taken a comprehensive approach to reducing the prison s of Oct. 1, the numcontinued on page 4 population, with an emphasis ber of individuals incarcerated in Penn- on rehabilitation for men and PASS IT ON sylvania prison facilities is the women who are incarcerated One of the and opportunities after incarlowest it has been since 2001. most often ceration, and I’m proud of our The current population of used behaviorsuccessful efforts while ensur36,743 inmates reflects a reducal descriptors ing public safety,” Gov. Tom tion of more than 8,300 people today is AtWolf said in a news release. since the pandemic began in tention Deficit The Department of CorrecMarch 2020. tions recently launched an Disorder... During the pandemic, the interactive dashboard accesDepartment of Corrections exPage 2 pedited parolee furloughs and sible to the public that tracks the state prison population, POLITICS.....................................3 maximized releases, reviewed the number of parolees, recidiNOTES ON MUSIC..........................7 parole detainers for those in county jails and state prisons, vism, and other key data over The SCI-Huntingdon prison in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Photo courtesy of the CRIME.......................................10 the past 20 years. expedited the release process CLASSIFIEDS..............................11 Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
The Grand Exhibition at the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania runs through Oct. 30
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Pennsylvania’s incarcerated population reaches lowest level in 20 years
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