Pope Francis, quoting an evangelical passage, "takes the whip in hand to purify the Temple of businessmen". No more churches with price lists for baptisms and blessings, no more asking for money for masses, no more churches for rent: "I am thinking of the scandal we can cause people with our attitude, with our non-priestly habits in the Temple: the scandal of commerce, the scandal of worldliness. And the people are scandalized”.
A clear and simple message, the one released during the morning homily by the Pope, according to which "redemption is (and must be) free", to avoid sin and avoid, above all, the estrangement of the faithful from the Church. The Pope also recounted an anecdote that happened to him during his youth, in Argentina, when an engaged couple who wanted to get married with mass, as recommended by the council, were forced to pay for two shifts.
“We know what Jesus says to those who cause scandal: better to be thrown into the sea”. And again: “two masters cannot be served: either you worship the living God, or you worship money, money. But why is Jesus angry with money? Because redemption is free; the gratuity of God he comes to bring us, the total gratuity of God's love", because the Temple must be kept clean: "There are two things that the people of God cannot forgive: a priest attached to money and a priest who mistreats people".
