Vatican City, Jun 3, 2013 / 15:04 pm
Pope Francis on Monday warned about corrupt Christians who think they are "strong" and "independent of God," emphasizing that Catholics should instead take saints as their models.
"How bad are the corrupt in the Christian community! May the Lord deliver us from sliding down this road of corruption," the Pope said in his June 3 homily during Mass at the Casa Santa Marta residence in Vatican City.
Attendees at the Mass included priests and collaborators of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Cardinal Angelo Amato, who heads the congregation, concelebrated the Mass.
Pope Francis distinguished between saints, sinners and "corrupt persons" in a reflection on the Gospel parable of the wicked tenants in the vineyard. The tenants beat the vineyard owner's servants who sought to collect rent and ended up killing the owner's son.