15 Diseases of the Roman Curia

Pope Francis addresses the superiors of the Roman Curia

The celebration of Christmas calls for preparation. For Pope Francis, preparation means preparation of the hearts. And so Pope Francis invites his collaborators in the Roman Curia to true examination of conscience so as to prepare the hearts for Christmas.

In his Christmas message, Pope Francis compares the Roman Curia to a body that is also exposed to diseases and temptations, which weaken the service to the Lord. Here is the list of the probable diseases:

1. The disease of thinking we are “immortal”, “immune” or “indispensable”

A Curia which is not self-critical, which does not keep up with things, which does not seek to be more fit, is a sick body.

2. The disease of “Martha complex”, excessive busy-ness

We need to learn from Qohelet that “for everything there is a season” (3:1-15).

3. The disease of mental and spiritual “petrification”

It is found in those who in the course of time lose their interior serenity, alertness and daring, and hide under a pile of papers, turning into paper pushers and not men of God (cf. Heb 3:12).

4. The disease of excessive planning and of functionalism

When the apostle plans everything down to the last detail and believes that with perfect planning things will fall into place, he becomes an accountant or an office manager.

5. The disease of poor coordination

Once its members lose communion among themselves, the body loses its harmonious functioning and its equilibrium; it then becomes an orchestra, which produces noise: its members do not work together and lose the spirit of fellowship and teamwork.

6. The disease of “spiritual Alzheimer’s

It consists in losing the memory of our personal “salvation history”, our past history with the Lord and our “first love” (Rev 2:4).

7. The disease of rivalry and vainglory

When appearances, the colour of our clothes and our titles of honour become the primary object in life.

8. The disease of existential schizophrenia

This is the disease of those who live a double life, the fruit of that hypocrisy typical of the mediocre and of a progressive spiritual emptiness, which no doctorates or academic titles can fill.

9. The disease of gossiping, grumbling and back-biting

It is the disease of cowardly persons who lack the courage to speak out directly, but instead speak behind other people’s backs.

10. The disease of idolizing superiors

This is the disease of those who court their superiors in the hope of gaining their favour.

11. The disease of indifference to others

This is where each individual thinks only of himself and loses sincerity and warmth of human relationships.

12. The disease of a funeral face

Those glum and dour persons who think that to be serious we have to put on a face of melancholy and severity, and treat others – especially those we consider our inferiors – with rigour, brusqueness and arrogance.

13. The disease of hoarding

When an apostle tries to fill an existential void in his heart by accumulating material goods, not out of need but only in order to feel secure.

14. The disease of closed circles

Where belonging to a clique becomes more powerful than belonging to the Body and, in some circumstances, to Christ himself.

15. The disease of worldly profit and exhibitionism

When an apostle turns his service into power, and his power into a commodity in order to gain worldly profit or even greater power.

Pope Francis explains that these 'diseases' and 'temptations' do not only concern the Curia but 'are naturally a danger to every Christian, community, congregation, parish, and ecclesiastic movement'.