Mixed Papal Message

Call it confliction.  Pope Francis gave his annual papal speech and said all the right things on Christmas Day, but somehow the good words are a bit empty. What did his papal message say? Pope Francis spoke of  the simplicity of Jesus' birth as he rebuked what he called societies' intoxication with consumerism, pleasure, abundance and wealth. Can't argue with that. We are even more addicted to things, particularly electronic ones, than ever before in the history of the world. But is not the Catholic Church that Francis heads equally or even more addicted to "stuff".  For that matter, aren't nearly all religions practicing the same conflicted message?

In the case of Pope Francis' church, the Vatican owns the most priceless art collections in the world.  Perhaps Pope Francis could sell it and donate that money to the poor of the world.  Denouncing "consumerism" while sitting on such a priceless art collection seems hypocritical to me. Since being elected pope in 2013, Francis has tried to shape the church into one marked more by loving mercy than the old threatening and judging church of absolutes. He insists that the needs of the poor and others, including refugees and migrants, be paramount.

I hear him, but I don't see the Catholic Church doing anything more than it has done in the past. That is, donating a great deal of money and helping many, but doing far less that the papal words ask the church members to do. In the past churches set the agenda by lading with action. Now with church attendance in a free fall and donations lessening proportionally, it seems that churches are in the talking game n more than the helping one.

But perhaps I am being too critical in expecting ideals to be turned into actions. What do you think?