Gossip is a plague worse than Covid, says Pope

P o p e F r a n c i s s a i d y e s - terday that gossiping is a “plague worse than Covid” that is seeking to divide the Roman Catholic Church.

Francis strayed from his p r e p a r e d t ex t t o d o u b l e down on his frequent complaint about gossiping in church communities and the Vatican bureaucracy, saying the devil is the “biggest gossiper” who is seeking to divide the church with his lies.

“Please, brothers and sisters, let’s try to not gossip,” he said. “Gossip is a plague worse than Covid.”

The Pope also elaborated on a Gospel passage about correcting others privately when they do something wrong.

The Catholic hierarchy has long relied on “fratern a l c o r r e c t i o n” a m o n g priests and bishops to correct them when they err without airing problems in public.