Bloomberg: Would It Kill This Pope To Act Like A God Damn Rich Person Every Now And Then?
He doesn't have to retrofit the Popemobile with Swarovski-encrusted rims but Jesus, spring for a round of Cristal every so often.
Yet in the reign of Francis—nicknamed the People’s Pope, or the Pope of the Poor—luxury seems somewhat incongruous. Though he presides over coffers that conservatively are worth at least $8 billion, he seems uninterested in spending, a radically different approach from most of his predecessors. He isn’t anti-capitalist, but he emphasizes mindfulness in spending, whether personal or corporate.
Benedict, now he knew how to act like a billionaire.
Compare this to Benedict, nicknamed the Prada Pope, who had a raffish affect. He was snapped by photographers sporting sunglasses en route to meet Italy’s president (no confirmation as to whether they were Gucci or Serengeti, despite much squinting) and even commissioned a private perfume-maker to create a signature fragrance solely for his use.
How Un-Luxurious Is Pope Francis, Compared to His Predecessors? [Bloomberg]
