The Enemies’ Pope

Francis' idea of popularity: Juan Domingo Peron.

For a long time this little effort has been saying, together with other littler and less little efforts, that Francis' is a Papacy that serves the enemies of the Church.

Slowly, what used to be considered the fixation of a tiny minority of cranks – not that we are, of course; but the Cafeteria troops loved to characterise us in that way – is becoming more and more mainstream.

One of those more attentive to what is happening, and among the most outspoken among the prudent, diplomatic mainstream media continues to be Sandro Magister.

The last article appeared on “Chiesa” has a devastating, even mockingly ironic title: “Francis, the First Pope Lauded by Secular Opinion”.

Now, in Italy it is often not the author who picks the title but the titolista, a man whose job is to write headlines that entice the reader without – hopefully – betraying the article's content. In this case, the titolista is pretty accurate, though, then I am curious to see who will, whilst in a sober state, dare to deny the authenticity of these telling words.

The article isn't much different, though it cannot be called equally excoriating. It is very clear that Francis' policy is more attractive to the world than to Catholics, and that it can be safely said the more orthodox Catholics love a Pope, the more the world will hate him. Seeing in this way, Francis popularity in the world is a clear – if unspoken – accusation of the fundamental betrayal of Church values his “line” represents.

Yes, the piece is not a frontal attack to the Bishop of Rome. This is not the way the Italian mainstream press works; and you will notice that in the end Magister gives Francis the usual lip tribute, by noticing that he mistrusts his own popularity; though Magister also does not hide from us that Francis mentions Freud as he so does. As the Italian says, intelligenti pauca.

In the years to come, more and more among the mainstream will wake up to the reality of an utterly catastrophic Pope. Hopefully, in time this will spread enough to taint the image of the “great Franciscan Pope”. As the man is mainly moved by his own vanity and search for approval, widespread opposition – or mockery and ridicule if needs be; then a Pope who makes a mockery of the Papacy should be mocked out of love for the Papacy – might be the only thing short of Divine intervention that leads him to be a pale imitation of a Catholic Pope.

Mundabor