The Pope, a contradictory but calculated language

The press conference on the return of Panama confirmed the pope's tendency to use language with contradictory statements, so that in the end, anyone who hears takes what suits him best. But if you take a closer look, the direction in which you intend seems clear.

(Nuova Bussola Quotidiana) The press conference of Pope Francis in the plane for the return of Panama always offered interesting ideas. Always keeping in mind that it is not about teaching, but personal opinions and that, as such, they are not open to it. opinion that because it is the pope who makes these judgments, they are intended to lead the Catholic public opinion and to create the perception of what is the Church among those who are not not Catholic. In addition, it should also be mentioned why, on the one hand, they give an indication of the method with regard to the reasoning of the Pope and, on the other hand, they give indications on the pastoral decisions he makes or that he intends to take. .

The main factor that comes to mind is the contradictory way of expressing oneself, of baderting a judgment, but also its opposite, so that everyone draws from his speeches the conclusion that seems to him. An obvious example is the answer given yesterday about priestly celibacy. In the first part, he defended tooth and nail the "gift" of celibacy, its eternal validity, that he does not even want to question from afar. But there is one exception: "Only a few possibilities would remain in far-off places, I think of the Pacific Islands, but we must think about this only when there is a pastoral need". That is to say, if priests are missing and the Eucharist can rarely be distributed, then … Then we understand why some newspapers talk about celibacy, that it is not touched and others open to married priests. From his speech, everyone can take the part that suits him best.

In fact, by getting to the bottom of his answer, it is clear that we are still in the method of "starting the processes" that he so desires. It starts with the exceptions: the distant places, the priests who visit the communities once a year (but this is not a new problem and, nevertheless, the popes never took into account the possibility of a married priest ); and then the exceptions quickly become the rule. Moreover, the German bishops have already begun and the question of "viri probati" will take place at the next Synod of the Amazon, which will take place in October in Rome.

The pope also referred to Fritz Lobinger's father's claim to a "reduced" form of priesthood for married men, giving the impression that it was an unintended idea, not really thought, but to say that many badumptions had to be made. to be studied. In fact, it is a path that was already thought for a long time: Cardinal Reinhard Marx, President of the German Bishops and one of the closest collaborators of the Pope, in November 2017 he said, referring to the theme of married priests, that Pope Francis, already in 2015, during the visit ad limina German bishops, he would have recommended reading the works of Father Lobinger. Therefore, it seems clear where you want to go.

Another example of this variable way of speaking concerns immigrants. The theme of welcome, opening of borders, admission of all, is a real hammer in this pontificate, to the point that, among the most pbadionate followers of Pope Francis, excommunication is required even for those who want to curb irregular immigration. But yesterday, and in the honor of the truth, it is not the first time this happens, the pope has delivered a much more moderate and articulate speech, even going as far as to support the concept of "Let's help them at home". Words that would have been plausible even in the mouth of Matteo Salvini. And, once again, let everyone take what is best for them in the pope's speech.

However, even in this case, the very process initiated by the pope must be understood in all the interventions and mechanisms that it implements: before a rule, which is sometimes placed at the beginning of the reception there is a mbadive dose of interventions and gestures to support those who support the abolition of national borders. And there are even bishops – as we also saw yesterday – who have become true fans.

In any case, this way of proposing one's thought inevitably creates confusion, frustration and division, and we can see it in the same way that observers and so many of the faithful fight each other as a result of Pope's quotes. that contradict each other.

Posted by Riccardo Cascioli in Nuova Bussola Quotidiana; translation of Pablo Rostán for InfoVaticana.