Pope Francis, between Tradition and Modernity. 11 years ago the world news was that there was a new Pope and that it would surely be different because he was the first Latin American and also the first Jesuit to become the Supreme Pontiff
Of a Catholic church that was very focused on the reality of Europe. In this report we are going to show you that Francis is very different from any previous Pope, mainly because he is still the same secular Jorge Bergoglio from his native Argentina and the reality is that his
Life is a pastoral mission that will mark, by pure vocation, a direction of an open, peripheral, more humble church and above all centered on people, leaving a papal legacy that is already anticipated to be important. Francisco is a simple man who from the first minute of being appointed
Showed his humility and commitment, valuing what is important over what is ritual, suggesting that what is simple has a very great symbolic weight. He leads by example. That March 13, 2013, newly elected and at the moment of greeting from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica,
Renouncing the privileges and palatial luxuries of the Vatican, he appeared without the red shoes, the velvet cape and the golden pectoral cross, traditional symbols of the “princes of the Church” choosing to continue wearing his old black, worn and wrinkled shoes that he already had
On and the silver cross that always accompanied him. The next day he was photographed while paying out of pocket for his room at the Vatican hotel where he had stayed and then he was shown moving around Rome in an old Renault 4 instead of the luxurious German cars
That he already had at his disposal. The traditional chambers of the Pope in the Apostolic Palace are luxurious rooms in which all the heads of the church have resided since Pius that the facility that functions as a hotel for all the members
Of the church who come to the Vatican for a few days. Jorge Bergoglio stayed there, so the 266th Pope named Francis continues to live there. An ancient institution like the church is based on following traditions and providing continuity, rather than innovating,
So in the history of the names of each pope there were 22 Johns, 16 Gregorys, 16 Benedicts, 14 Clements, 13 Innocents, 13 León, 12 Pío, 9 Estéban and so on a long list. The choice of name is seen as an indication of who the new pope will emulate, what policies he will follow,
Or even the length of his pontificate. And Francis is the first pope to call himself that, since he does not refer to any predecessor but to Saint Francis of Assisi, anticipating a conflict between Tradition and Modernity. A solitary protester in St. Peter’s Square,
While waiting for the two days of conclave and the 5 votes until the chimney of the Sistine Chapel showed the white smoke, carried a sign that was premonitory. The ordinary church requested a Francis. Saint Francis of Assisi was a holy symbol of
Humility and very close to the poor, a perfect name for the austere Jorge Bergoglio who came to succeed the renounced Benedict XVI and leave his mark on the Vatican and the Church. Bergoglio never imagined he would end up here, ever.
Furthermore, I came with the suitcase, with what I was wearing and a little more. Furthermore, I left the Salmon prepared for Palm Sunday. Because I thought: “No Pope is going to take over Palm Sunday,” so I’m traveling on Saturday. I mean, I never imagined I would be here. His secular name is Jorge
Mario Bergoglio and he was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the eldest son of the marriage made up of his father Mario José, an emigrant originally from Italian Piedmont who was a railway employee, and his mother María Regina Sívori, a housewife who had
5 children in total, of whom only María Elena, his sister, is alive. minor. He grew up in the Flores neighborhood, where he lived much of his childhood and youth. He attended the Salesian school Wilfrid Barón de los Santos Ángeles in the town of Ramos Mejía. He studied at the
ENET Industrial Secondary School No. 27 Hipólito Yrigoyen, receiving the title of chemical technician. He liked to play football, and is a follower of the San Lorenzo Club from the Almagro neighborhood in Buenos Aires, which considers him its most famous fan and when they became champions they brought him the cup on a visit.
“And may San Lorenzo win.” Honorary member of San Lorenzo de Almagro and carries card number 88235. The Pope is a “Cuervo”, as the fans of that team call him. They say that he worked as a cleaner in a flower shop and as a doorman in a nightclub;
Who liked to dance tango and even had a girlfriend until his interest in faith, religious life and an early priestly vocation led him to join the seminary of the Company of Jesus at the age of 21 on March 11, 1958. , thus beginning his
Religious training. He earned a degree in Philosophy and also studied Humanities in Chile. Between 1964 and 1965 he was a professor of Literature and Psychology at the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción in Santa Fe, later opting to teach Theology at the San José school in the
Town of San Miguel. He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969 by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano and since then he had a long career within the order. Latin America was under the influence of Liberation Theology, and although Bergoglio is not
Identified as one of its representatives, his pastoral approach and his commitment to social justice are heirs of this theological current and can be seen in: His emphasis in social justice and the defense of the most vulnerable. Its focus on praxis: values
pastoral action and closeness to the people. His criticism of neoliberalism, which he denounces as an economic system that excludes and impoverishes. He is not afraid to denounce injustices and defend the oppressed. He is fluent in Spanish, Italian, Latin and German,
In addition to having a medium knowledge of English, French, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Piedmontese. He moved to Germany to obtain his doctorate and upon his return he resumed pastoral activity as a priest in the Argentine province of Mendoza. During the following decades, he played various
Roles within the Argentine Church, including his work as a teacher and spiritual director. On May 20, 1992, he was consecrated titular bishop of Auca, (a historical and non- face-to-face diocese) to allow him to serve as one of the four auxiliary bishops of Buenos Aires.
Later he was coadjutor bishop of the same on June 3, 1997. On February 28, 1998 he was elevated to the position of archbishop of Buenos Aires by Pope John Paul II. At that time he did not live in the cardinal’s palace, but in an ordinary apartment. He went to work every
Day by bus and prepared his own food. During the consistory of February 21, 2001, Pope John Paul II named him cardinal of the title of Saint Robert Bellarmine. In addition, he is primate of Argentina. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio stood out for his commitment to
Those most in need and his modest lifestyle. He gained recognition for his advocacy of human rights , his stance against poverty and his focus on social justice. During his time in Buenos Aires, he became an influential figure both within the Church and in Argentine society in general. While a cardinal, he opposed the
Same-Sex Marriage Bill . On July 9, 2010, days before its approval, a note from him was made public describing the project, which contemplated that homosexual people could marry and adopt children, as a “war of God. ” He was an orthodox Jesuit
In dogmatic matters. In addition, he clashed on other occasions with the governments of Néstor and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, with their criticism of corruption and poverty. Since being elected pope in March 2013, Francis has led the Catholic Church with a focus on humility,
Compassion and inclusion. He carried out a series of reforms and actions aimed at revitalizing the institution and addressing contemporary challenges facing the Church and society at large. The Vatican began to feel a silent impact of small gestures that marked the beginning of
A stage of change. The Holy See stopped being a place of power, to break some structures and become a place of service based on humility, dialogue and evangelization. A decade passed under his leadership, and society not only notices a great approach of the church to
Social reality, but the Supreme Pontiff himself has evolved as a person and magnified his papacy. His relaxed style surprised everyone, even journalists with a lot of experience covering the Vatican who he surprised by making fun of himself to break the ice: Francis’ focus on financial reform and Vatican transparency has been an
Integral part of his papacy, contributing to strengthening the credibility and relevance of the Catholic Church in the modern world. His commitment to honesty, integrity and justice has inspired millions of people around the world and cemented his position as a leading figure on
The world stage. On the day he turned one month as Pope, Jorge Bergoglio announced the creation of a council made up of eight cardinals, from the five continents, to help him in the reforms to begin. The objective of this council, whose members were elected by himself
, was to simplify the structure of the Roman Curia, the powerful administrative authority of the Vatican, to make it more agile and less bureaucratic. He created two large departments, they are called dicasteries, one dedicated to “laity and family” and another to “charity and justice.” He reduced
From around thirty dicasteries to less than 20 so that tasks are not duplicated, consultations are easier , and above all to establish a “culture of service” to the Pope and the dioceses around the world. The financial management that Francis initiated in the Vatican was an example of the search for
Transparency and responsibility in the management of Church funds. Created the Financial Information Authority to prevent corruption, improve transparency in all operations and incorporate supervision and control bodies that ensure that resources are used ethically and efficiently. In addition, he reformed the judicial system so that
Bishops and cardinals could be tried in secular courts, and not only in religious instances. Cases of crimes committed were always silenced and submitted only to canon law. Francis has been steadfast in his commitment to combating corruption within the Vatican and other Church-related institutions. He urged religious and civil leaders
To adopt ethical practices and be accountable for their actions, requesting and offering greater international cooperation in the fight against money laundering and other financial crimes. He also carried out a financial reform, centralizing all accounts into one and requiring each
Dicastery to present a budget, in which they had to include a reduction in expenses and imposed the obligation on them to make an accounting of the same. He demanded austerity and transparency from all powerful officials in the curia, something unprecedented. In an internal audit,
The most serious financial scandal of the last 30 years emerged. Not only because of the economic scale, but because this time Pope Francis decided to give instructions to the Vatican judiciary to proceed without any leniency. A bishop was tried and imprisoned: the
Vatican criminal court in the first instance sentenced the high-ranking Italian cardinal Angelio Becciu, 75, to five and a half years in prison for fraud, in a case related to financial operations of the Saint Headquarters and the purchase of a property in London. The Pontiff had already stripped
Cardinal Becciu, who had been number 3 in power, of his right to participate in a conclave that would elect the next Pope. Francis’ papacy is characterized by its focus on solidarity and social justice. From its beginning it sought reforms in the Catholic Church,
Adopting a more inclusive and open approach on issues such as homosexuality, same-sex unions, the situation of divorced people and also to admit opinions of lay people on the debates around the celibacy, the role of women in the church and the marriage
Of clergy. But he also took charge of some of the aberrations committed by the church. In his post-synodal exhortation “Amoris lætitia” he even questions Catholic morality itself: “We should avoid judgments that do not take into account the complexity of various situations.” General rules would certainly be a good thing, “but in their formulation,
They cannot at all encompass all particular situations.” A church open to the reality of society can only emanate from a pontiff who is mature, open, understanding and unprejudiced enough to embrace the situation of the divorced and tell them that “not only do they not have
To feel excommunicated, but they can live and mature.” as active members of the Church”, warning that “it is no longer possible to say that all those who find themselves in a so-called irregular situation live in mortal sin” and to assure that “no one can be condemned forever”,
And adding “I do not I am referring only to those divorced and in a new union, but to everyone, in whatever situation they find themselves in.” There is a contrast in positions that shows an evolution that benefits the Catholic Church in the effort to tolerate, understand and understand
Modern society. This openness is part of the personal growth that Francis made and leads him to be closer to the reality of each of the people, demonstrating a level of modernity that places him at the forefront of the conservative Roman Curia, in which an opposition is fermenting. increasingly
Difficult to hide. These statements had a high impact in all spheres of the church and society, igniting controversies and extreme positions. Francis defends the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees, deeply moved by the continuous shipwrecks and victims of the Mediterranean Sea, calling for the solidarity
Of countries and communities to contribute to mitigating the problem and being understanding of those who suffer . that problem. It denounces consumerism as a form of generalized selfishness and proclaims responsibility and social justice in the distribution of resources to avoid waste
And inequality, seeking to make room for the poor and marginalized in economies. Advocate for the climate crisis by calling for awareness and urgent action to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future. In these 11 years he has left an indelible mark on the
Catholic Church, with resonance in the world in general. His focus on mercy and compassion and his commitment to the most vulnerable has inspired many to work for a more just and caring world. During his visit to Brazil in 2013, when his papacy had just begun, he addressed
All the bishops and priests present in the Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro with a special request: I would like to say one thing: What do I expect as a consequence of the Day? of Youth? I expect trouble, is there going to be trouble in here? There will be.
Is there going to be a mess here in Rio? There will be. But I want trouble in the Dioceses, I want it to get out. I want the Church to take to the streets, I want us to defend ourselves against everything that is Worldliness, everything that is installation, everything that is
Comfort, everything that is Claritalism, everything that is being closed in on ourselves. The Parishes, the schools, the institutions, are for leaving, if they do not leave they become an NGO and the Church cannot be an NGO. He asked that the church take to the streets and he himself
Left the traditional centrality of the Vatican to the peripheries of the world, making pastoral trips to various countries around the planet, carrying out meetings with faithful, religious and political leaders, as well as activities pastoral and charitable. Forty-five trips, more than 60 countries visited and more than 400,000 kilometers traveled, equivalent to 10
Times going around the Earth, or a trip to the Moon. This numerical synthesis of Francis’ 11-year pontificate shows the dimension of the bridges he has built from the Vatican. Some of the most notable destinations were: To Brazil making his first international trip in July 2013, to participate in World Youth Day.
To the Holy Land in May 2014, making stops in Jordan, Israel and Palestine. During his visit, he made symbolic gestures of reconciliation and peace between different religious communities. To South Korea in August 2014 to participate in Asian Youth Day and to promote interfaith dialogue in the region.
To Albania in September 2014, where he highlighted religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence between different ethnic and religious groups. He made an apostolic journey to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in January 2015, where he met with survivors of Typhoon Haiyan and advocated for social justice and environmental protection.
To Cuba and then to the United States in September 2015, where he met with President Barack Obama and gave historic speeches before the United States Congress and the United Nations. To Mexico in February 2016, where he addressed issues such as violence, poverty and migration, and met with indigenous communities
And victims of violence. To Egypt in April 2017, to promote interfaith dialogue and peace in the region, and to express solidarity with the Coptic Christian community. To Colombia in September 2017, where he supported the peace and reconciliation process in the country, and met with victims of the armed conflict.
To Chile and Peru in January 2018, he made an apostolic journey where he addressed issues such as corruption, immigration and environmental protection. The Latin American Church has grown a lot in this, and to me that Church that knew how to cultivate the Peripheries, because the true
Reality is seen from the Periphery. In total he made more than 45 trips, visiting many other countries and continues to be a very active pastoral leader on the world stage, recognizing that he has yet to visit his native Argentina, from which he has kept a
Prudent distance due to the political tension that exists and of which he has been a part with gestures that, although they correspond to the social doctrine of the church, his compatriots have taken them as political attitudes that polarized reactions in favor or against. Pope Francis constantly moves between the “theological” and the “political”,
And that has always been his way of communicating and that is why it does not go unnoticed. The government will send a report to Pope Francis on the judicial situation of Milagro Sala, after the controversy unleashed by Francisco’s famous gestures in manifest support for the leader who has been detained for
More than a month. The government of the province decided to send to the Supreme Pontiff all the documentation that supports the actions against it. Do you perceive yourself as a Peronist? When you ask me that question I ask you confidentially, you ask it in such a tone, as if you were asking me:
Tell me something, were you a leper? And was it cured? -Because Leprosy, I’ll tell you a little about my… -But it’s not my intention -No, I already know, but I’ll tell you what I experience. As if to say “Careful!”
In other words, Peronism is a popular movement that has a long history and that brought together many people with Social Justice projects and a political movement, but my family was certainly “Anti-Peronist” and I had to deal with all the people and change a little perspective.
This story began, this of claiming that I am a Peronist because, back in the early 70s, at the Universidad Del Salvador here in Buenos Aires, which belonged to the Jesuits at that time, is now a group of Laypeople who have Jesuit spirituality. ,
But it was directly from the Jesuit Order at that time, whose provincial was precisely Jorge Mario Bergoglio, well, in that university, when the Laymen take it over, a part of that group of Laymen enters, it was from the Peronist organization ” Iron Guard” and
He says that even though, well, he tried to show, let’s say a balance and so on, these very skilled people who had a lot of presence at the university and from that presence, he was definitively identified as a Peronist, but he assures that it is not, in addition he also had
Some writings on Social Justice, so it was always linked that way, but the truth is that I do not have it, but he adds something very challenging, I would say very suggestive, he says ” Well, and if it were a Peronist, what would be wrong?”
He recognizes that democracy is complex and that it requires “Effort and Patience” which is why he received all the Argentine presidents who visited him and applied that “Effort and Patience” himself despite how his figure was used in the electoral period
Of the year 2023, and ended up closing that chapter by receiving the elected president Javier Milei and his entourage to whom he expressed that traveling to Argentina in 2024 remains a hypothesis. Alberdi’s letter In his encyclicals he addressed a variety of topics relevant to the Catholic Church and society in general. The most notable are: Laudato si’ from 2015: Which deals with the care of the common home, that is, concern for the environment and integral ecology. Francis
Exposes the interconnection between the environmental crisis, social justice and poverty, calling for an ecological conversion that encompasses both individuals and institutions. It highlights the importance of protecting God’s creation and promoting sustainable development that respects human dignity and the balance of nature. Amoris laetitia from 2016: Which is about love
In the family and addresses issues related to marriage, sexuality, parenting and the challenges that families face in modern society. Francisco reflects on the beauty of conjugal love, the importance of communication and forgiveness in family relationships, and the need to accompany families in difficult situations,
Such as separation and divorce. Fratelli tutti of 2020: which addresses the topic of fraternity and social friendship, highlighting the importance of building a more just and supportive world, where all people are treated with dignity and respect. Francis reflects on issues such as globalization, migration, interreligious dialogue,
Solidarity and peace, calling for a culture of encounter and inclusion that overcomes divisions and promotes universal brotherhood. Evangelii Gaudium of 2013: Although it is not an encyclical in the strict sense, this document is an apostolic exhortation on the proclamation
Of the Gospel in today’s world. Francis reflects on the joy of the Gospel and the importance of evangelization in the contemporary world. It addresses themes such as mercy, inclusion, the preferential option for the poor and social transformation through Christian witness. In each one, it offers a unique perspective on
Important issues for the Church and society in which its degree of openness can be glimpsed, in this tension between conservatism and modernist currents that exist in society and considers that they should also be reflected in church. In modern societies,
Very dynamic changes are being seen that put an ancient and traditional structure like the church in a very delicate situation to follow the evolution. The pope is in the middle of that storm, with strong internal and external pressures to which he is trying to respond in a delicate
Balance of dogmatic and cultural transition. He defined a clear and forceful position in relation to abortion, considering that the defense of unborn life is “intimately linked to the defense of any human right.” It states that “unborn children” are the most defenseless and
Innocent of all, and they want to be denied their human dignity in order to be able to dispose of them at will. His conviction is that the human being is “always sacred and inviolable”, at any stage of his development. Although it reaffirms the traditional teaching of the Church on abortion, it
Also recognizes that “little has been done to adequately accompany women” in difficult situations. He states that abortion is “a crime” and that eliminating a human life to solve problems is neither progressive nor ethical. Also, and like never before in 2,000 years of the
Church, Pope Francis expressed his position in relation to homosexuals and the family, providing support for the “legalization of civil unions for same-sex couples.” Homosexual people have the right to be in the family, they are children of God, they have the right to a family and you cannot throw someone out of a family.
No one or make your life miserable because of it. What we have to do is a law of civil coexistence. These expressions expressed in a documentary premiered at the Rome Film Festival generated a wide impact in all languages and were on the cover of newspapers around the world,
Setting off all the alarms in the ultra-conservative sectors of the church. Despite this support for civil unions, the Pope reiterates that the “Church only recognizes marriage as the union between a man and a woman.” His words about possible blessings for same-sex couples contrast with previous statements, where he had stated
That the Church could not bless these unions because “they could not bless sin.” A process of personal evolution is noticeable in Bergoglio himself that makes Francisco greater. That I became more merciful, it’s one thing that, I gained mercy. In my life I had rigid periods
That demanded too much, then I realized that this path does not go away, that you have to know how to lead that fatherhood that God has. Today I would criticize that Bergoglio who (at some
Stage, not always), as a Bishop I was a little more benevolent, but in the Jesuit stage and everything was sometimes very down-low, right? Life is very beautiful with God’s style, of always knowing how to wait, right? Always wait for others, give them time, know, but play dumb
Like you don’t know and let them mature. This is one of the most beautiful wisdoms that life gives us. While Pope Francis shows understanding and some openness toward LGBTQ+ people, he continues to uphold the Church’s traditional teaching on marriage as an
Exclusive union between a man and a woman. It is clear that its flexibility and openness is not an easy task as the highest authority of the Catholic Church, whose community remains largely conservative and very orthodox in the interpretation of the gospel. But societies evolve and convey their concerns:
In the Church there have to be changes, because for now, that Priests can have a partner or get married or whatever, that is important to me, it would eliminate many problems in the Church. I don’t feel like I’m seeing the progress we should see regarding the place of women in the Church.
Francis highlights that “priestly celibacy is a “gift of the Church” and warns priests about the importance of “prayer” and “priestly fraternity” with “ties of authentic friendship” so that celibacy does not become ” an unbearable weight.” In an interview, Pope Francis spoke about the possibility of “reviewing the discipline
Of priestly celibacy in the West.” And he also stated that “there is no contradiction” for a priest to marry. But his position is in line with that of Pope Paul VI, who stated: “I would rather give my life than change the law of celibacy.” Another message that Francis has sent
To the world is his commitment to Justice and Peace, for which he made many trips and efforts to maintain a significant relationship with political leaders around the world, convening Catholic parliamentarians of the International Network of Legislators Catholics to meetings in which he has urged a national and international commitment to justice,
Fraternity and peace. Dialogue and cooperation in the constant search for truth are considered the instruments to guarantee Peace. Seeking something beyond the absence of war to reach a global understanding. For his part and as a good pontiff, he also established bridges and interreligious dialogue with different leaders of different faiths around the world
To promote peace and mutual understanding. He had meetings with the Orthodox Pope Bartholomew I, and on his visit to Korea he met with local leaders, he did the same in the Philippines with the Head of the Council of Imams, Ebra M-Moxsir al-Haj and also in Sri Lanka,
Where he participated of the interreligious meeting at the BMICH Congress Center in Colombo. Despite the opulence of the Vatican, Francis wanted a Church “poor and for the poor,” so he has become personally involved in the fate of the destitute, especially those in Rome who are
They gather around the Vatican begging for alms from tourists. In 2015 they renovated the public bathrooms so that the homeless can access showers and they will also have a hairdressing service. Each receives a package with a towel, underwear, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and a
Shaver. Openness, austerity and the option for the peripheries seem to be the most visible traces that Francis’ papacy will leave as a legacy. His imprint has given shape to a Church that is “increasingly less conservative and more focused on the popular interests and the lower-income social sectors
. And fundamentally, focused on the emerging countries of the world.” Of the 60 countries he visited, 10 were in Latin America, where the largest number of Catholics in the world live. But also where the Vatican continues to give ground. In the last 40 years, the
Catholic Church in Latin America lost more than 80 million faithful, practically entirely members of the middle and poor sectors of society, who turned en masse to evangelical communities, a phenomenon that continues in the present. That is to say, not even the presence of a
Latin American Pope was able to reverse the trend. Pope Francis’ vision of the Church focused on the distant “peripheries” of Rome where he sought the uniqueness of the faith of each region, valuing the identity and dignity of the people, in a systematic effort to create
The foundations cultural and spiritual character of a new world society founded on cultural identity and not on its homogenization. Francis visited the Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, two of the poorest nations in Africa, reaffirming the “disruptive” profile that seeks to listen to all
The world’s leaders and have their voices heard in turn. For the first time in 1,300 years, someone who was not born in Europe governs the Vatican , and his objective of reaching poor, neglected countries with his travels , where the Catholic Church was beginning to be questioned for its coldness and remoteness,
Enriches his perspective. , brings him new ideas, but also forces him to adapt to the most serious social emergencies. Francis’s Catholic church is no longer the traditional European-centered structure filled with Italian cardinals; It is being renewed and updated, but even so, the changes in society are not quickly assimilated in
A traditionally conservative curia that is not willing to cross certain limits. Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, faces increasingly strong opposition within the Vatican. The conservative clan of the Roman Curia, the powerful governing body of the Holy See, accuses him of having a lax view of Catholic doctrine, especially
With regard to the status of homosexual couples and divorcees, the clan of ” AntiPope Francis” seems now more determined than ever to pursue his goal: Expel him from office. For now, the 87-year-old Argentine Pope is resisting and showing
That he has no intention of resigning while his health allows him to continue leading the Church. All Vatican specialists agree on one point: The Pontificate has entered a turbulent period. “We feel that we are quite close to the end of the pontificate, so, we have the feeling
That for some months now a battle has been going on about who will succeed Francis, also means Francis’ legacy, in other words, what will happen to what “What did this Pope do during his pontificate? We have reached a stage in which a kind
Of electoral campaign has begun, although it is not a real campaign, but a way of campaigning.” Crucially, this electoral battle pits two sides: the increasingly defiant conservative Traditionalists and the Reformists closer to the Pope. “Serious errors come from the Church itself, the sheep depend on the courage of
Their shepherd, who must protect them from the poison of confusion, error and division.” An opinion shared by a significant proportion of practicing Catholics. “The issues that women priests talk about or religious celibacy, all of these are nothing more than Trojan horses for us to accept the arrival
Of LGBTQ+ staff. And we think that this is what they are trying to do in this Synod.” “We would never allow a homosexual union to be blessed, it goes against the will of God, it goes against what the Bible clearly says. So if he opens that door,
Then we have permission to bless same-sex couples, which means that sin in the sexual area has changed. The Pope is not the teacher of doctrine, he is the servant of doctrine. He must defend the faith, not end it.” At this crossroads where the Pope finds himself between the pressures of reformists and ultra-
Conservatives, the key to balance is given by the position of the cardinals and, precisely, the 223 cardinals who make up the Roman Curia, the current Pope appointed half, a sign of the influence that the Argentine pontiff will have on the Church of the future.
The level of tension is so great that Francis decided to evict the 75-year-old American Cardinal Raymond from his residence in the Vatican Leo Burke, openly critical of his management, and withdraw his salary because Burke is part of a group of American conservatives
Who have long opposed the Pope’s plans to reform the Catholic Church and are developing activism that seeks to remove him. He removed the so-called Cardinal Plate, which is the salary that cardinals receive, of about 5,000 euros per month, and also blocked the free use
Of the luxurious apartment assigned by the Vatican to the American cardinal. If Burke wants to continue enjoying it, he will have to pay the rent, which is about 10 thousand euros per month. There is no record of a Pope deciding to apply sanctions of this type to one of those who are supposed
To be one of his eminent collaborators, but in a top-down institution like the church, everyone must answer to the Pope as the highest authority. The decision, it was stated, is not intended as a personal punishment and is based on the belief that a person should not
Enjoy cardinal privileges while criticizing the head of the Church. Likewise, the Pope has open dialogue and received him to discuss each topic personally. Francis initiated a truly Catholic, universal Church, where the periphery and the center can no longer compete but rather complement each other to reflect the demands of the Catholic world and
Not only the reality of Europe. A more transparent Church and much closer to its faithful, which broke with Eurocentrism and now has cardinals representing all continents, managing to establish representative links that strengthen the relationship with dioceses around the world. And he seems to be unwilling for the ultra-conservative wing to change his course.
As long as he is healthy, he will continue to face them so that the progress is not lost and he will leave the path marked so that he will even transcend it when he is no longer here. Who will be the next Pope? If we think about the succession, Bergoglio’s election
Opened a door that is now difficult to close. In addition, the Pope appointed the Venezuelan Edgar Peña Parra in a key position: Substitute of the Secretariat of State, a power function in the Vatican organizational chart at the level of apostolic nuncio, balancing
Traditional power towards the periphery and with greater weight in Latin America in the representation. But in the next succession conclave, the continental representations are much more balanced so the probabilities lead to the next pope being an Asian, probably a Filipino,
Like Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila and the youngest of the cardinal structure. , which even has its own Facebook. The possible combinations of favorites and the evolution of cardinal replacements mean that the figure of Cardinal Tagle has more and more followers
And represents a geographical area that is a true bastion of parishioners who need greater representation. Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto Jimeno, a member of the Jesuit order, celebrated his 80th birthday on February 12 and obtained acceptance of his letter of resignation as archbishop of Huancayo by Pope Francis. With this resignation, the number of
Cardinal electors decreases to 130 out of a total of 239. It should be noted that this figure does not include to the Italian cardinal Angelo Becciu, who has been removed and deprived of rights to date. On the voting list, European cardinals number 52, among whom are 14
Italians. This percentage represents less than 10%, thus marking the lowest number in history. The Spanish cardinals are divided into 8 electors and 6 non-electors. In terms of geographical distribution, there are 21 Latin American cardinals, 15 North Americans and 22 Asians, including the Italian Giorgio Marengo, responsible for the apostolic prefecture in Mongolia,
And the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, the Italian Franciscan Pierbattista Pizzabala. There are 17 African cardinals , among whom is the Spanish López Romero, archbishop of Rabat, and 3 are from Oceania. To date, the voters appointed by Pope Francis
Number 95, while those appointed by Benedict XVI are 27 and by John Paul II, 8. In a conclave, Francis’ pastoral vision would virtually have a majority. After Italy, the countries with the highest representation of cardinal electors are the United States with 11,
Followed by Spain with 8, France with 6, Brazil with 6, India with 5, Canada with 4, Portugal with 4, Poland with 4, Argentina with 3 and Germany with 3. But since the majority are over 80 years old,
Resignations are expected, like that of the Peruvian cardinal already mentioned. A curia open to debate makes it possible to guarantee the advancement and updating of the ancient church towards social reality; Francis knows this and takes advantage of his possibilities by appointing younger and more understanding cardinals:
Today situations generate questions and those questions and those questions must be answered from faith. Therefore, this dynamic, dynamic, not static, advancement of tradition allows new answers to be given to new problems. In December 2024, the number of cardinal electors will reach the limit quota established
By Paul VI, which is equal to 120. However, Pope Francis, in the last consistory, has raised that figure to 137, exceeding the quota of 135 established by John Paul II in 2001 and 2003. Most likely, the Holy Father will decide to convene a consistory in the coming months for
The creation of new cardinals. Let us remember that, in the last consistory on September 30, 2023, the Pope created 21 new cardinals. Among them stand out three Argentines, three Spaniards, a Colombian and a Venezuelan. The Pope routinely seeks new cardinals who come from various parts of the world, thus reflecting the universality
Of the Church. Each selected cardinal has an extensive career and has served the Catholic community in their respective dioceses. Francis chooses pastors who represent the diversity and commitment of the Catholic Church around the world, ensuring that church renewal and global representation is a reality. Openness,
Austerity and option for the emerging countries of the world seem to be the most distinguishable thing about the papal legacy of the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio during his time at the Vatican. There will be an increasingly less conservative Church, more dedicated to the popular interests and the social sectors with fewer
Resources. There will be enthusiastic parishioners and others very disappointed. It will be seen over the years whether the point defined by Francisco between Tradition and Modernity was appropriate for the time. The aging of the Pope brings closer the reality of electing a new pontiff, and the Argentine Jorge
Bergoglio in his time at the Vatican has left a legacy that will be noted for several decades. Francis himself responded to the Mexican journalists Collins and Alazraki in 2023 that he imagined himself in retirement, taking the example of Benedict XVI, resigning and remaining bishop emeritus
Of Rome, with reduced pastoral activities, giving up the position so that his successor can be chosen. -If I survive the resignation, because I may die before resigning. -Let’s hope not. -If I survive, I would like
Something of that type, we also have to see how, right? Because if you end up quite destroyed or with your neurons a little out of place, it’s better to do nothing and stay still. Although he appears lucid and very active, he suffers from osteoarthritis in his right knee, has a
Growing hip ailment, he had already undergone colon surgery in 2021 and abdominal surgery in 2023, which added to his pace of life and his 87 years of age limits his ability to continue traveling, so he focuses on making sure he leaves The church is directed towards its vision
And in each of the appointments it seals the future destiny of the house of Peter. According to him, he would not return to Argentina for his last days and would like to be buried in Santa María Mayor. And as always, I promised the Virgin, and the place is already prepared,
I want to be buried in Santa María Mayor, because it is my great devotion. But regardless of how far-sighted he may be on the subject, the Pope remains full of activities and aware of all the fronts in his charge, and making it very clear that, despite his years and the increasing difficulty
In carrying out his functions, he has everything planned according to what he considers his mission, to the point that there is a letter of resignation written from the beginning of his pontificate, to be presented when he considers that he can no longer handle his responsibilities. However, since the
Pope moves around in a wheelchair, and this prevents him from celebrating masses and other liturgical acts due to his lack of autonomy to move, the situation became an argument to evoke his eventual resignation. The images shown from the official channels are coordinated so
That at the moments when his holiness has to move to speak from the altar, they focus on the public or have the chroniclers intervene to hide the difficulty of movement between the chairs until the scene is ready, although the montage is precise, the chroniclers in person,
And the Roman curia itself, take note of the notable deterioration in health. Even so, flying over these 11 years in which the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis, the important thing that seems to leave us as a question is: What do people think
About the role of the church and what Francis did in his pontificate? What would the faithful expect from a next Pope? Because Francisco himself appears calm about what he has done and expresses that the rest no longer depends on him, so he continues looking forward with his usual serenity.
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