Corrupt people do not notice their own corruption. It is the same as when people have bad breath: they seldom realize it themselves. Others realize it and need to tell them. Hence, also, it would be hard for someone who is corrupt to escape from that state through inner repentance. Their good spirit in this regard is anesthetized. Generally, our Lord saves them through means of trials that come from situations they experience (illness, loss of money, loss of loved ones, and so forth), and these are what pierce the armor of their corruption and enable grace to enter. Then they can be cured.
--Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis), "Corruption and Sin", The Way of Humility, 2005
