Pope tells whiners not to

VATICAN CITY: If anyone had any doubts how Pope Francis feels about people who always complain, the answer is now tacked to the door of his suite in a Vatican residence: “No whining.”

Under the warning, the red-and-white Italian language sign goes on to say that “violators are subject to a syndrome of always feeling like a victim and the consequent reduction of your sense of humour and capacity to solve problems”.

A picture of the sign was posted on the Vatican Insider website and its presence confirmed by its editor-in-chief Andrea Tornielli, who is close to Francis and has interviewed him several times.

The sign is adorned with the international symbol for “no” – a backslash in a circle.

It adds: “The penalty is doubled if the violation take place in the presence of children. To get the best out of yourself, concentrate on your potential and not on your limitations.”

Then the closing zinger: “Stop complaining and take steps to improve your life.”

The sign was given to Francis by Italian psychologist and self-help author, Salvo Noe.

Francis has had no shortage of complainers in the Vatican since his election in 2013. He has tried to steer the 1.2 billion-member church on a more inclusive and merciful path, angering conservatives who say he his sowing doctrinal confusion.

A recent episode involved Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, a German whom Francis removed last month from his post as Vatican doctrinal chief at the end of a five-year term.

Mueller apparently expected his mandate to be renewed automatically.

He told a German newspaper the way he was treated was “unacceptable”. – Reuters

PICTURE: REUTERS Pope Francis has caused a stir with a ‘No whining’ sign posted on his suite door at the Vatican.