Pope Francis is taking charge of the Church’s affairs slowly
and cautiously. He has already said and done some things of significance
since his election on 13 March 2013. Vatican Insider takes a look at what Francis has done so far and in what direction he seems to be steering Peter’s boat in.
First of all though it is worth considering one point: it would be naive to think that just because the Pope has come from “the other side of the world”, he is ignorant of all that was going on in Rome.
There were at least two people, one lay man and a prelate from a very important Vatican congregation, who had close links to the Pope and kept him informed about developments in the Vatican situation.
At least two.
But archbishop Bergoglio may have had other people, who were not as much under the spotlight, keeping him up to speed on everything that went on.
Bergoglio has never had a personal secretary and prefers Saint Martha’s House to the Papal Apartment. He has taken a close look round the Papal Apartment and three smaller apartments in the same area. They’re nice he said, “But what would I do here by myself?”
To which the reply was that he would not be by himself, he would have a personal secretary and some nuns with him.
He smiled and replied: “Behind nuns there is always a priest and behind a priest there’s a bishop...”
The bottom line is the Pope smiles and cares about everyone but putting trust in people is a whole different matter.
What Pope Francis has done so far
He has set up a council of eight cardinals from all around the world, who advise him on how to go about reforming the Church. This reform will come but maybe not as quickly as some think.
Still, the first meeting of the “Crown Council” has been set for early October.
This - and a number of other initiatives - has been welcomed by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
He has removed the 25 Euro annual “bonus” usually given to the cardinals in charge of overseeing the Vatican bank (IOR).
So far, the Pope has not given any definitive answer about whether the bank will undergo reform, be shut down or handed over.
The bonus Vatican employees usually get when a new Pope is elected, went to charity this time.
This move was also unanimously approved.
The Pope met the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Gerhard Müller and decided on two things: firstly, that the fight against sex abuse in the Church will continue in the same line of rigour taken by Ratzinger.
Secondly, in response to doctrinal deviation and the behaviour of the Leadership Conference Women Religious (LCWR), they approved the “critical assessment” given after the apostolic visit, as well as the placement of the LCWR under the administration of an external commissioner.
“The current doctrinal and pastoral situation of the LCWR is grave and a matter of serious concern,” the report read.
He accepted the premature resignation of a South African bishop, as Benedict XVI did in more than 80 cases, on the basis of article 401 of the Code of Canon Law.
This article is often referred to when there are problems.
He has made two important Episcopal appointments, selecting two traditionalist U.S. figures as bishops: Michael Jackels from Wichita became Bishop of Dubuque and Mgr. John Folda was appointed Bishop of Fargo, replacing Samuel Aquila, who was in turn transferred to Denver.
To conclude, the image projected by Pope Francis so far, is that of a sober, silent and determined man, who wants a more sober Church that is more sensitive to criticism and to the world’s judgements in the fields of finance and morality.
In terms of doctrine and discipline, he appears to be following smoothly along the footsteps of his predecessor.