3. Will the Real Pope Francis Please Stand Up
Published by Campbell M Gold in Esoteric · Friday 25 Apr 2025 · 9:45
Tags: Pope, Francis, papacy, criticisms, achievements, research, articles, encyclicals, public, sentiment, transformative, efforts, tenure, April, 21, 2025
Tags: Pope, Francis, papacy, criticisms, achievements, research, articles, encyclicals, public, sentiment, transformative, efforts, tenure, April, 21, 2025
Pope Francis
Who was "Pope Francis?" Let's have a look...
Introduction
- Pope Francis faced criticism from conservatives for liberal stances, like blessing same-sex couples and allowing communion for divorced Catholics. At the same time, progressives felt he didn’t go far enough on issues like women’s ordination.
- He achieved notable progress in environmental advocacy, interfaith dialogue, and addressing clergy abuse, while promoting inclusivity and opposing the death penalty.
Criticisms and Negative Comments
Pope Francis’s actions often sparked debate, with conservatives frequently viewing his approach as too progressive, challenging traditional Church teachings.
Key controversies include:
- Allowing blessings for same-sex couples in 2023, seen as too permissive by some, especially in Africa (Newsweek).
- Permitting communion for divorced and remarried Catholics in some cases via Amoris Laetitia (2016), which some felt undermined doctrine (Crux Now).
- Debates over Indigenous spirituality during the 2019 Amazon Synod, including the Pachamama statue incident (Crux Now).
- Restricting the Traditional Latin Mass in 2021, upsetting traditionalists (PBS News).
- Using offensive language about homosexuals in seminaries in 2024, leading to an apology (Crux Now).
Progressives, meanwhile, criticised him for not fully embracing changes like women’s ordination or broader LGBTQ+ acceptance, though he supported decriminalising homosexuality.
Positive Achievements
Pope Francis made significant strides in addressing global and Church issues:
- Published Laudato si’ (2015) to tackle climate change, urging environmental stewardship (Britannica).
- Promoted interfaith dialogue, signed the Document on Human Fraternity and met with leaders like Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani (PBS News).
- Apologised for clergy sexual abuse and worked on reforms, including a 2022 apology to Canadian Indigenous peoples (Britannica).
- Advocated for the poor, migrants, and refugees, criticising economic inequality (Wikipedia).
- Reformed Church structures via the Synod on Synodality, enhancing inclusivity by involving laity and women (Time).
- Opposed the death penalty, revising the Catechism in 2018 to declare it inadmissible (Wikipedia).
- Played a diplomatic role, restoring Cuba-US relations in 2014 (Wikipedia).
Review of Criticisms and Achievements
This section provides a detailed examination of Pope Francis’s papacy, reflecting on the criticisms and negative comments against him and his positive achievements. Based on research into recent articles, encyclicals, and public sentiment, the analysis aims to capture the complexity of his leadership, acknowledging both the controversies and the transformative efforts that defined his tenure from 2013 until his passing on April 21, 2025.
Criticisms and Negative Comments
Pope Francis’s papacy was marked by significant controversy, often stemming from his perceived shift toward more progressive stances, which drew ire from conservative Catholics. These criticisms were frequently highlighted in media outlets and scholarly discussions, reflecting a divide within the Church.
Key points include:
- LGBTQ+ Issues and Same-Sex Blessings: One of the most contentious actions was the 2023 document Fiducia Supplicans, which authorised blessings for same-sex couples, though it emphasised not changing the Church’s stance on homosexuality. This move was met with intense backlash, particularly in Africa, where cultural and religious norms clashed with this policy. For instance, Newsweek reported growing dissent, with over a hundred Catholic thought leaders calling for its withdrawal, arguing it condoned "objectively sinful" relationships. Conversely, some progressives felt this was insufficient, as it did not fully embrace same-sex unions, highlighting his complex stance on LGBTQ+ issues, further complicated by his 2013 "Who am I to judge?" remark and 2024 support for decriminalising homosexuality (HRC).
- Communion for Divorced and Remarried Catholics: The 2016 apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia ignited controversy with footnote 351, allowing for case-by-case discernment on communion for divorced and remarried Catholics. Some conservatives saw this as a departure from traditional doctrine, leading to public backlash and the publication of Dubai by four cardinals in conservative media, as detailed in Crux Now. This move was perceived as softening Church rules, yet progressives argued it did not go far enough in reforming marriage doctrines.
- Indigenous Spirituality and the Pachamama Incident: During the 2019 Amazon Synod, the use of Indigenous symbols, including the Pachamama statue, sparked debate. The statue was stolen and thrown into the Tiber River, leading Francis to apologise for any offence. However, as noted in Crux Now, the incident highlighted tensions between Indigenous spirituality and Catholic orthodoxy. This incident underscored his efforts to embrace diverse cultures, yet alienated some traditionalists.
- Restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass: In 2021, Francis issued Traditionis Custodes, reversing Benedict XVI’s liberalisation of the Latin Mass and restricting its celebration. This decision faced significant backlash from traditionalists, who saw it as an attack on liturgical tradition, as reported in PBS News. It was part of his effort to unify liturgical practices, but deepened divisions within the Church.
- Offensive Language and Other Remarks: In 2024, Francis used the term "frociaggine" (a derogatory term) twice in meetings regarding homosexuals in seminaries, prompting an apology after backlash, as documented in Crux Now. Additionally, his remarks on gender theory, comparing it to nuclear war, drew criticism from liberals, as seen in HRC, reflecting his nuanced and sometimes polarising approach to social issues.
- Political Involvement and Climate Activism: His activism on climate change, notably in Laudato si’ and Laudate Deum (2023), drew criticism from some Church figures who believed he ventured too far into secular politics, as noted in The Independent. His comments on migration and economics, such as criticising trickle-down economics, also polarised opinions, with some seeing it overstepping religious boundaries.
These criticisms were not limited to conservatives; progressives, including LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, felt he maintained traditional stances on women’s roles (e.g., no ordination) and did not fully embrace broader inclusivity, as seen in The Conversation.
This duality made his papacy a lightning rod for debate, with X posts reflecting admiration and critique. However, post-April 21, 2025, recent posts leaned heavily toward honouring his legacy (X post by @PeterObi, X post by @MagicJohnson).
Positive Achievements
Despite the controversies, Pope Francis’s papacy was marked by transformative achievements, often praised for their global impact and alignment with his vision of a "poor Church for the poor." These are detailed in various sources, including encyclicals, news reports, and academic analyses:
- Environmental Advocacy: His 2015 encyclical Laudato si’ was a landmark document addressing the climate crisis, calling for environmental stewardship and inspiring global action, as noted in Britannica and CAFOD. In 2023, Laudate Deum further condemned climate change denial, and in 2024, he organised a climate summit issuing a Planetary Protocol, reflecting his commitment to sustainability (Wikipedia).
- Interfaith Dialogue and Peace Efforts: Francis made significant strides in interfaith relations, signing the Document on Human Fraternity in 2019 with Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, inspiring the International Day of Human Fraternity, acknowledged by UN Secretary-General António Guterres (Wikipedia). His visits to the Arabian Peninsula (2019) and Iraq (2021), during which he met Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, emphasised peaceful coexistence, as reported in PBS News. In 2024, he signed the Joint Declaration of Istiqlal in Indonesia, further promoting interreligious harmony.
- Addressing Clergy Sexual Abuse: Francis took historic steps to address clergy sexual abuse, apologising in 2022 for the Church’s role in cultural genocide at Canadian residential schools, as detailed in Britannica and Wikipedia. He held a Vatican Summit in 2019 and signed a Motu Proprio 2019 to prevent abuses, aiming to restore trust, though challenges remained.
- Advocacy for the Poor and Marginalised: Known for his emphasis on mercy, Francis consistently advocated for the poor, migrants, and refugees, criticising trickle-down economics and consumerism, as seen in Time and Wikipedia. X posts post-April 21, 2025, highlighted this, with users like @CBSNews noting his focus on migrants (X post by @CBSNews).
- Church Reform and Inclusivity: In October 2024, during the Synod on Synodality, Francis implemented a global listening exercise involving all levels of the Church, aiming for a more participatory culture, as detailed in Time. He also allowed women to vote at the Synod of Bishops and increased their presence in senior administration, marking a shift toward inclusivity, as noted in Wikipedia.
- Opposition to the Death Penalty: In 2018, he revised the Catechism to declare the death penalty "inadmissible," formalising the Church’s opposition. This move was praised for its moral stance, as seen on Wikipedia.
- Diplomatic Achievements: Francis played a key role in restoring full diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US, announced on December 17, 2014, and negotiated deals with China on bishop appointments, renewed in 2020, 2022, and 2024, as detailed in Wikipedia. These efforts enhanced the Vatican’s global influence.
Comparative Analysis
The following summary reviews the key criticisms and achievements, highlighting the polarised nature of Francis' papacy:
Aspect - Criticisms (Negative Comments) - Achievements (Positive Impacts)
- LGBTQ+ and Social Issues - Blessing same - sex couples seen as too liberal; offensive language in 2024 criticised. - Supported decriminalising homosexuality, a nuanced approach to inclusivity.
- Liturgical Practices - Restricting Latin Mass in 2021 upset traditionalists. - N/A
- Doctrine and Communion - Amoris Laetitia, allowing communion for divorced Catholics, drew conservative backlash. - N/A
- Cultural and Spiritual - The Pachamama incident during the Amazon Synod (2019) alienated some traditionalists. - Embraced Indigenous cultures, promoting diversity.
- Environmental and Political - Some see Climate activism as overstepping into politics. Laudato si’ and climate summits advanced global environmental action.
- Church Reform - Progressives felt he didn’t go far enough on women’s ordination and LGBTQ+ rights. - Synod on Synodality enhanced inclusivity and involved laity and women.
- Global Engagement - N/A - Restored Cuba-US relations, promoted interfaith dialogue, opposed the death penalty.
This summary reflects the complexity of Pope Francis’s legacy. X posts post-April 21, 2025, show a mix of admiration for his compassion and critique of his controversial decisions, though recent sentiment leaned positive (X post by @kajakallas, X post by @DavidLammy).
Conclusion
His papacy, ending with his death on April 21, 2025, left a lasting impact, with ongoing debates likely to shape the Church’s future.
Citations
- BBC News article on Pope Francis' criticisms
- Washington Post on Pope Francis' liberal statements
- Newsweek on Pope Francis' growing revolt
- Crux Now on top of papal controversies
- PBS News on Pope Francis' church changes
- The Independent on Pope Francis' controversies
- The Conversation on Pope Francis' reforms
- HRC on Pope Francis' LGBTQ complexity
- Britannica on Pope Francis' biography
- Time on Pope Francis' mercy emphasis
- Wikipedia on Pope Francis details
- CAFOD on Pope Francis moments
There you have it... Okay, I have to ask... From the foregoing, do you think Pope Francis, the 112th and "Final Pope", was Peter of Rome, as prophesied by St. Malachi?
St. Malachi's Final Prophesy
In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & Judex tremêdus judicabit populum suum. Finis.
(In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by
Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.)
There are no reviews yet.