Too many Catholics, Christians are slothful, says Francis

Pope warns against becoming too lazy to proclaim Gospel

(ANSA) - Vatican City, April 1 - Too many Catholics have lost enthusiasm for their faith and risk falling into "the spiritual disease of sloth", Pope Francis said Tuesday.

The problem also afflicts Christians outside the Catholic faith, the pope added during his regular morning Mass at St. Martha's House, the Vatican guesthouse where Francis lives. "I think of so many Christians, many Catholics; yes, they are Catholics but without enthusiasm, and even embittered," and at times, hypocritical, the pope said.

They may attend Mass each Sunday but their spirits are closed to others and their spirits risk falling into the sin of sloth, or laziness and apathy, he warned. "The spiritual disease of sloth makes Christian people still, quiet, but not in the good sense of the word," he added. "They do not bother to go out to proclaim the Gospel! They are anesthetized," he said.