"Historians will argue if I harmed the Church. They will not argue if I did God's will." - Pope Stephen X
The Vatican was in a panic. News from all over the world was that millions of Catholics were leaving the Church. For a while, there was no news from the Pope and he had not shown himself in public. There were rumors that there was a power struggle in the Church.
The media was full of news about priests and bishops being prosecuted and sentenced for many years because they abused a child. There was also news of priests that were getting married and the first women students that wanted to study as a priest.
But where was Pope Stephen?
The fact was that he secretly dressed up in his old priest's clothes and visited the world's largest Refugee camp. The Pope spent 3 weeks taking care of sick people, bringing food and blankets in the camp. He led both Muslims, Jews and Christians in prayers. He did not tell anyone he was here. In fact, Lorenzo thought the Pope locked himself in his own room.
It was first after 3 weeks, when someone recognized him as the Pope, that the media came. The Pope told the media to report the dire living conditions of the people, who were victims of war.
When he came back to the Vatican, Lorenzo was waiting. He warned the Pope that he had many enemies, so the Pope should not make any big announcements, that would destabilize the church more.
This did not happen. At the next Cardinal meeting, the Pope announced that a congress between Cardinals and Bishops would commence on the Organization of the Church. The Pope explained that the clergy needed to be apostles again, and not politicians or administrators. This council could change the way the Church was run. The Pope gave an example if people should have a say who the Pope was? Should there be cardinals and Bishops? Are all the ceremonial routines and the cleric attire needed? The Pope also asked about the Vatican finances? The Vatican's wealth at $10 billion to $15 billion. Of this wealth, Italian stockholdings alone run to $1.6 billion, 15% of the value of listed shares on the Italian market. The Vatican has big investments in banking, insurance, chemicals, steel, construction, real estate. The Pope asked was the Church a financial institution or what?
The most important discussion according to the Pope was how each Catholic family could strengthen their relationship with God.
The Cardinals were outraged. The Pope wanted to turn the church upside down. They did not discuss families and how people can be closer to God, they discussed how the Pope wanted to destroy the Vatican's finances.
As one Cardinal told me, "Did the Pope expect us to eat soup and bread?"
On the Eve of the Popes 3rd year, he rang to his mother. The Pope admitted that he was in bed for a few days because he did not feel well. His mom said they were harassed by many of their friends that did not like the changes. One asked her if the Pope was going to sell the Vatican. The Pope asked to speak with his father. His father did not want to speak.
That night a nun asked the Pope should she get a doctor? The Pope smiled and said she could in the morning. He just wanted to sleep
The next day they found Pope Stephen X dead in his bed.
ns 15.158.61.17da2
