History, sometimes circular, leads us to reflect on papal figures and their relationship with power and poverty. The Third Crusade, promoted by Pope Innocent III, is recalled, resulting in a massacre in Jerusalem. Later, at the Council of Lateran in 1215, sacramental norms were approved, and unusual relics were venerated, such as those of the Holy Spirit. In his palace, Innocent III received Francis of Assisi and his friars, a stark contrast between the Church's wealth and the friars' humility.
The text compares this historical scene with Pope Leo XIV, head of the Vatican State since the Lateran Pact between Pope Pius XI and Benito Mussolini. The pontiff's praise for the dictator and his attendance at a liturgy in Barcelona, where Jesus's rebellious words against religious power were ignored, are criticized. The papal visit is described as a media spectacle, culminating in fireworks after the inauguration of a tower at the Sagrada Familia, with costs deemed confidential.
After his stop in Barcelona, the Pope traveled to the Canary Islands on a presidential plane. The recommendation to bishops to suspend classes and the subservience of civil authorities are mentioned. The visit included meetings with immigrant groups in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, including the Arguineguín pier, described as 'of Shame' due to the migrants' situation and political inaction. The article points out the hypocrisy of those who listened to the pontiff while ignoring Jesus's words against corruption.
The author criticizes the Pope's omission regarding the conflict in Gaza and the ongoing war, as well as the lack of condemnation for corruption involving public officials. The absence of meetings with victims of pedophilia or with priests critical of celibacy and the role of women in the Church is also lamented. Reference is made to St. Paul's directive that women not speak in assemblies, reflecting the Vatican curia's stance.
Finally, the socio-economic situation of the Canary Islands is addressed, with difficulties for the majority of the population and the continuous arrival of migrants. The possibility of a 'pull effect' caused by the papal visit is speculated upon. The text contrasts Vatican ostentation with a minority seeking the spiritual in environments of silence and nature. It concludes with a reflection on the majority's passivity in the face of history and the persistence of social injustices and the gap between rich and poor.
