A REPLY FROM POPE FRANCIS

My dear brother in Christ,

May the blessings of the Easter season be upon you and your family Michael.

I read your latest blog post with interest and am touched by your offer to help lighten my load. However, leadership is not a burden when one is guided by the Holy Spirit.

I hope you noticed that in response to your first concern, I did get out of the Vatican on Holy Thursday to wash the feet of two youths at the juvenile detention centre at Casal del Marmo. I plan to make Thursdays my pastoral day of service although I do like the sound of Fridays with Francis. Know that I share your concern for the misfits and marginalized in society as I hope the early days of my pontificate have shown.

Be assured that when it comes to selling off some of the Vatican’s assets, I will make every effort to reduce papal land holdings, our art collection as well as other related monetary items.  In addition, I will revisit the edict re gold chalices. In fact, I may start reusing the clay chalice my dear parents gave when I was ordained in 1969.

Though I have no intention of boarding up confessionals and creating a children’s liturgy at this point, I will give such ideas my prayerful consideration. I realize that for the Church of the future to be truly catholic and apostolic, we must engage our people in the richness of sacramental life.

And yes, I will begin the process of defrocking delinquent priests and miscreant bishops in a timely fashion. Be patient my son.

Finally, regarding your personal questions, my answers are Pele, with anchovies and any Jackie Chan movie.

Peace be with you, Mike 2.0.

Pope Francis



It's amazing the letters one can receive on April Fools' Day!