Cardinal Raymond Burke was deprived of his apartment in Rome by Pope Francis. When will Francis also "take away his salary"?
(Rome) Cardinal Raymond Burke received a "gift" from the Holy See last Friday at the beginning of the new liturgical year and on the First Sunday of Advent. The Vatican informed him that from now on he would have to pay a "market-rate" rent for his apartment in Rome or vacate it by the beginning of 2024.
The Holy See's letter is dated November 24. On November 27, it became known that Pope Francis, at the meeting with the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia on November 20, declared that Cardinal Raymond Burke would "take away his apartment and his salary." The only thing that is disputed is whether Francis spoke of the U.S. cardinal as "my enemy" on this occasion or whether he used the word "enemy" at all. The Bergoglian Austen Ivereigh was outraged by this. Beyond this quibbling, however, the papal approach is unprecedented and shocking.
Burke, a highly intelligent and unwavering defender of the unabridged doctrine of the faith, has been a thorn in the side of the reigning head of the Church since the beginning of the pontificate. He seems to be Francis' personified opponent, which makes him feel the wrath of papal power.
The chronology of events:
November 20: Pope Francis, meeting with the heads of the dicasteries in Rome, declares Cardinal Burke a non-person. Since he had already deprived him of all his offices, he would also deprive him of his apartment and his salary, according to the papal announcement.
November 24: On papal instructions, Cardinal Burke is instructed to either pay for his own apartment or vacate it.
Nov. 27: The Pope's new attack on the faithful U.S. cardinal leaks to the public. On the same day, the Bergoglian Austen Ivereigh lights a smokescreen and declares that the Pope never spoke of "enemy".
November 28: Nicole Winfield of the Associated Press reports that Burke is being punished by Francis for being "a source of disunity in the Church," and Philip Pullella of Reuters adds that Burke is working "against the Church and the papacy," according to Francis.
December 1: Cardinal Burke receives the notice from the Holy See, which is in fact a request to vacate his apartment near St. Peter's Basilica, because he is unwelcome there. [Just in time for Christmas!!]
- 4 December: The receipt of the Vatican's request for payment is confirmed and made public by the US media outlet The Pillar.
For information, the Holy See pays for the accommodation of the Curial Cardinals in Rome, if necessary of all Cardinals. However, the regulation also applies to numerous subordinate employees of the Vatican.
Cardinal Burke's Roman lodging is located near St. Peter's Basilica in a building that also houses other members of the College of Cardinals. While the Holy See continues to allow the other Purple Bearer, who lives next door to Cardinal Burke, to live for free, an example is being made of the American. Francis seems to want to demonstrate to everyone that Burke is an "outlaw."
Francis has brought about the absurd situation that Burke, as a cardinal, is now worse off than numerous subordinate collaborators and employees of the Holy See. Francis seems to like such humiliations, especially when they concern Cardinal Burke, whom he has demoted and publicly belittled several times since 2013.
The cardinals residing in Rome receive a monthly salary of around 4,000 euros from the Holy See for their tasks and merits. According to Roman real estate experts, this sum would not be enough to pay for Burke's apartment at "market prices" because of its prestigious location.
Since Pope Francis announced that he would also "take away the cardinal's salary," it seems to be the papal intention to expel Cardinal Burke from Rome in the first place. In the past few days, he had emphasized that he considered it "important" to be in Rome because of his duties to the Church.
Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: MiL
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
AMDG
