BY Ian Dunn | December 21 | 
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Flu-struck Pope aims to ‘cure’ the Roman Curia
Holy Father offers ‘Curial antibiotics,’ delivering his Christmas message on reform to Vatican bureaucrats sitting down as he does not feel ‘strong’
Pope Francis has urged Vatican bureaucrats to show more honesty, humility and sobriety as he issued a ‘catalogue of virtues’ in his Christmas message to members of the Roman Curia.
The Pope, who has flu, joked this morning during his annual Christmas greeting that after last year’s public diagnosis of the ‘15 ailments of the Curia’ that he should have come up this year with the ‘Curial antibiotics’ to treat them.
In a way he did, issuing a list of virtues that should guide their work, including honesty, sobriety, respect and humility.
The Pope also stressed that his planned reforms ‘will move forward with determination, clarity and firm resolve’.’
Despite resistance the Pope said ‘diseases and even scandals cannot obscure the efficiency of the services rendered to the Pope and to the entire Church by the Roman Curia, with great effort, responsibility, commitment and dedication, and this is a real source of consolation.’
“It would be a grave injustice not to express heartfelt gratitude and needed encouragement to all those good and honest men and women in the Curia who work with dedication, devotion, fidelity and professionalism, offering to the Church and the Successor of Peter the assurance of their solidarity and obedience, as well as their constant prayers,” the Pope added. ”Moreover, cases of resistance, difficulties and failures on the part of individuals and ministers are so many lessons and opportunities for growth, and never for discouragement. “
In this Holy Year of Mercy, the Pope urged those present to let ‘mercy guide our steps, inspire our reforms and enlighten our decisions.’
“May it be the basis of all our efforts,” he said. “May it teach us when to move forward and when to step back. May it also enable us to understand the littleness of all that we do in God’s greater plan of salvation and his majestic and mysterious working.”
The Holy Father delivered his remarks sitting down, telling the cardinals and bishops gathered that had been suffering from the flu for the past several days ‘and I don’t feel very strong.’
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