Pope Francis: Patheos shill?!

Elizabeth Scalia notes the pope tweeted a little something yesterday that sounds uncannily like the theme from her new book, “Strange Gods.”

But it turns out, he was just getting warmed up.

In his homily at St. Paul’s yesterday, the Holy Father elaborated:

We have to empty ourselves of the many small or great idols that we have and in which we take refuge, on which we often seek to base our security. They are idols that we sometimes keep well hidden; they can be ambition, a taste for success, placing ourselves at the centre, the tendency to dominate others, the claim to be the sole masters of our lives, some sins to which we are bound, and many others. This evening I would like a question to resound in the heart of each one of you, and I would like you to answer it honestly: Have I considered which idol lies hidden in my life that prevents me from worshipping the Lord? Worshipping is stripping ourselves of our idols, even the most hidden ones, and choosing the Lord as the centre, as the highway of our lives. Dear brothers and sisters, each day the Lord calls us to follow him with courage and fidelity; he has made us the great gift of choosing us as his disciples; he sends us to proclaim him with joy as the Risen one, but he asks us to do so by word and by the witness of our lives, in daily life. The Lord is the only God of our lives, and he invites us to strip ourselves of our many idols and to worship him alone.

Memo to Elizabeth: have your people call his people and make clear that part of the deal is that he has to mention the name of the book.  

Pick up the phone.  Call the man.  He loves to chat.  Tell him:

“Look, Holy Father.  Let’s get something straight. No more of this ‘hidden idols’ stuff.  It’s ‘strange gods,’ do you understand?  This is all about product placement, baby!  Do I need to tell you in Italian?  What language do you need?  Do I need to bring you a baby to kiss?  What?  Huh?  I don’t care if the Swiss Guard is hungry and tired.  Listen to me!  This is The Anchoress! Didn’t you get my tweet?  Wait a minute.  Hold on.  Are you chewing?  What are you eating?  The Swiss Guard brought you pizza…?  Is that what it takes?  Food?  It’s the Italian in you, isn’t it?…”