"The Pope should grant the Cardinals Grech and Hollerich a longer break; he cannot leave the leadership of the Church to the Synod Secretariat," Zen wrote in a post published on his blog on Sunday.
"On the contrary, strengthening the communion between the bishops and the pope, as well as between the cardinals and the pope, is what we would all welcome."
In connection with this, Zen also called for an end to the Synod of Bishops on the subject of synodality. This has caused a chaotic state in the Catholic Church.
On the prefect of the faith Fernández, Zen writes: "The Pope should also recall the head of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith. It is common knowledge that this cardinal has written things in the past that he would no longer write today (?!) In doing so, the former bishop of Hong Kong alludes to books on kissing or the connection between sexuality and spirituality that Fernández had written during his time as a chaplain in Argentina in the 1990s. These had caused a stir and criticism after his appointment as a prefect of faith.
Disturbing letter from Francis
"The most disturbing, however, is the letter that Pope Francis wrote to him in his appointment as prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith," Zen said.
In it, the head of the church Fernández, who died in 2025, has delegated a task that is fundamentally different from the traditional tasks of this congregation – no longer the defense of teaching, but the encouragement of theologians. In fact, in the letter on the appointment of Fernández in July 2023, Francis had ordered a new focus for the dicastery of faith.
In it he had also called for a harmonious growth of different philosophical, theological and pastoral lines of thought.
Zen also criticized that the effects of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) had "not been in line with expectations": "The Second Vatican Council is repeatedly attacked by those who pretend to continue the spirit of the Council, and believe that the 'reforms' it advocates have not yet been fully implemented."
At the same time, there are also voices who asked whether certain statements of the Council contradict the ecclesiastical tradition.
Church leaders do not adhere to council documents
According to Zen, the church has been plagued for many years by forces that oppose the Second Vatican.
"What is even more regrettable, however, is that we have had to witness for more than ten years, as the supreme leaders of the Church maintain that the Second Vatican Council has the highest authority, but in practice do not adhere to the documents he proclaims," Zen criticized.
Pope Francis (2013-2025) was praised for his great compassion and care towards the poor and disadvantaged.
But he seems to believe that, out of mercy to these people, concessions and compromises can even be made on issues of truth – we cannot join in.”
Francis, for example, has destroyed the “laborious efforts to defend the Orthodox faith” of his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Zen was Bishop of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2009. Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013) made him a cardinal in 2006.
In the pontificate of Pope Francis, he was one of the sharpest critics of his course, especially with regard to synodality and liturgy.