The Three Things that Pope Does Not Know

A common Italian joke: «our Pope knows everything about our Church… but there are three things he doesn't (and won't ever) know: first, what do Jesuits think; second, where do Salesians get money; third, how many female religious orders actually exist».

This joke means that current Jesuits are not the great Jesuits of 50-100 years ago. I know Jesuits and found that some of them are strongly Catholic, others –sadly– live some intellectual confusion.

I know Salesians as well; Salesians of st. John Bosco are indeed “rich”... as long as “rich” means that they can pay their phone bills, repair a damaged window, offer printed copies of their news bulletin, without asking for money during Sunday Masses.

Finally... yes: there are indeed lots of female congregations. Guess why? The number of female vocations is something about three times the male ones.