A bishop has condemned the actions of priests who, during an episode of the YouTube program "The Sacristy of the Vendée. A counter-revolutionary priestly gathering," openly prayed for the death of Pope Francis.
The priests' comments on the YouTube channel triggered outrage, with Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves of Toledo expressing profound rejection and warning of potential corrective measures.
During the program, a priest from Toledo initiated prayers for the Pope's swift departure to heaven, garnering support from another priest while the group of six priests, spanning different Spanish-speaking countries, laughed over the comments. The archbishopric emphasized it does not endorse the priests' statements.
The Sacristy of the Vendée group later apologized on its X platform, acknowledging the unfortunate comment and clarifying it was meant humorously, though they regretted any misunderstanding.
Meanwhile, Pope Francis, aged 87, made a brief trip to a Roman hospital for medical checks, reassuring his return to the Vatican after undergoing the same procedure in November. The incident underscores the challenges of maintaining respect and decorum within religious discourse, particularly in the digital age.
