On May 24 last, I made mention an oft-repeated anecdote about General George Patton who is quoted as having attributed his defeat over Nazi General Romel in North Africa because, as Patton stated, “Romel, you (ephithet deleted), I read your book!”
In that same article, I stated that while I have not exactly read Pope Franics’ “book”, I believe that I at least had read the "first chapter".
Well, curiously enough, on a return flight to Rome following a day-long pilgrimage to Geneva, Pope Francis once again held an impromptu in-flight press conference.
Only this time, the Holy Father’s comments left little question as to what the remaining chapters of his “book” might contain.
Let me cite just a few of the more remarkable revelations the Pope made.
First, it appears that the Holy Father did not personally draft a response to the German Bishops regarding their proposal to establish Conference-wide policies for intercommunion with Protestants.
Rather, the Pope said he supported the Vatican’s Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal-elect Luis Ladaria, in whose opinion the draft-propsal was “not sufficiently mature to be published” and needed to be rethought in such a manner that the entire Conference could be unanimous in accepting the proposed policy.
Pope Francis said that Cardinal Ladaria did not act unilaterally, but with the his permission.
The question is whether that permission came before the Cardinal’s response or afterward. In other words, did the Pope direct the Cardinal to issue a response or did the Cardinal on his own initiative issue a response which he subsequently received permission to publish.
The question is of particular interest to me since I have begun wondering if many of the Pope’s mis-steps in recent months weren’t really attributable to decisions that high-level Vatican diplomats made without seeking Papal approbation or approval.
For the Pope’s comments regarding Cardinal Lardaria acting with permission notwithstanding, it is curious indeed that the Francis’ last word on the issue is that, under the Code of Cannon Law, it is up to the local Bishop to decide under what conditions communion can be administered to non-Catholics, not local Bishops’ Conferences.
Thus, any mention of unanimity or maturity of policy becomes mute as the Bishop of the local Church is, in the words of the Holy Father, “responsible for this… it’s in his hands.”
Yet, even more telling was the Pope’s comments to reporters in effect praising the German Bishops, saying their document was “well thought out with a Christian spirit.”
In the end, Pope Francis contradicts Cardinal Lardaria in saying that, “Whatever the German conference may come up with in the end likely will be an orientational document so that every one of the diocesan bishops can determine by himself what the Code of Canon Law already permits.”
What do I glean from this?
It seems to be a repeat of what I mentioned in the earlier article, the Pope is very comfortable using his subordinates to test the waters of reaction to Vatican statements or judgments. It allows him the wriggle room he feels he needs to refine his position in direct response to how those judgments are received.
I am so convinced that this is the Pope's modus operandi that, should the Amazonian Synod take place in 2019 and should any question about the Ordination of married men of proven virtue be raised, the Pope's answer will eventually be that it is up to the individual Bishop in his local Church.
That won't sit well with the neo-reactionary conservatives, but it will be this Pope's response nonetheless.
Second, the Pope clearly has a blind spot when it comes to immigration both on the Continent and in America.
In response to the recent US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) denunciation of President Trump’s enforcement of immigration laws, the Holy Father did not mince words in throwing his support behind the U.S. bishops.
"I am proud of what the Bishops of that country said,” Pope Francis added.
More broadly, Francis said that “every country should [welcome new arrivals] with the virtue of government, which is that of prudence, because they should welcome as many refugees as they can, educate, integrate, relieve hunger, and help them find work. I would say this is the tranquil, serene plan for refugees,” the Pope said. “Here we’re living a wave of refugees fleeing war and hunger.”
Surely, if the Pope does not see the crippling effect unrestrained immigration has had upon Europe and the rising populist movements throughout the Continent seeking to protect and preserve European culture, then he is beyond any hope of being realistic or helpful in finding a solution to the crisis.
Third, Pope Francis is a dreamer.
That’s okay, all prophets are dreamers of one sort or another offering visions of hope or doom.
The Pope appears to be a hopeful dreamer, insisting that most global challenges can be resolved.
“The problem of war, of persecution of Christians in the Middle East and also in Nigeria, the problem of hunger can be resolved,” he said. “Many countries are thinking about how to invest in those countries, invest intelligently…to give work and education.”
And, finally and very revealing, Pope Francis recognized Cardinal-elect Angelo Becciu, who has served as his sostituto, or “substitute,” in effect a sort of chief of staff. Next week, Francis will name Becciu, along with 13 other individuals to the College of Cardinals.
The fact that Cardinal-elect Becciu, a lifetime diplomat, was assigned as Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has been very puzzling to me and others who doubt that His Eminence-to-be even knows where the office of the Congregation is located, let alone how it operates.
It remains my contention that the Cardinal-elect was only assigned there to be placed in a kind of holding pattern until such a time that Cardinal Pell’s trial in Australia on charges of sexual abuse of minors results in a verdict. In the meantime, Becciu will continue to act as the Pope's chief of staff.
In any case, the Pope’s recent in-flight presser added a number of chapters to the Pope’s “book” for those willing and interested enough to read it.
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