The eight years of Francis: “Certain reforms of the Vatican sanitation require drastic breaks with the past”

ROMA – It covered the pontificate of John Paul II, that of Benedict XVI, pope emeritus and now that of Pope Francis, who is celebrating the eighth anniversary of his election, the first of a Jesuit, a South American and a outsider, which took place on March 13, 2013. That is why no one better than Juan Vicente Boo, Vatican veteran and Rome correspondent of the Spanish newspaper ABC for 22 years, to analyze this new anniversary of the arrival of Jorge Bergoglio, 84, on the throne of Pedro. Boo, 66, is the author of several books on Francisco and a recently published book, Deciphering the Vatican, in which he explains what the longevity, mysterious, complicated and confusing world that surrounds him looks like. In an interview with LA NACION, he gave the keys to understanding these eight years of the pope who came from the end of the world.

-Eight years have passed, which are not uncommon. What balance do you strike?

-I would dare say that great. Besides the powerful redirection of the gaze of Catholics towards essential characteristics of God such as mercy, tenderness or joy, many historical milestones have been taken. Like the first meeting with a Patriarch of Moscow – the largest of the Orthodox Churches -, the first speech of a pope to the Congress of the United States – the most powerful parliament in the world -, the first social encyclical on the protection of nature, the first trip to the Arabian Peninsula and the signing of the Document of Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi, the first meeting in Iraq with the Grand Ayatollah of the Shiites, Ali al-Sistani …

-What do you think are the most important changes that Pope Francis has made?

-First of all, the change of style: simplicity, proximity, familiarity, joy … But also the first call to the big international consulting firms to reorganize the Vatican economy, to clean up the tax evaders at the Vatican bank (IOR), etc. Added to this is the great commitment to a synodal style of ecclesial government and the appointment of women as undersecretaries – “number three” – of the Vatican departments, which we hope will soon reach the seat as he has already tried it on one occasion.

-Jorge Bergoglio was elected after the explosive resignation of Benedict XVI, with the mandate above all to clean up the economy: do you think he was able to make progress in this area?

-In this area there have been many ups and downs. From the initial concentration of responsibilities within the new Ministry of the Economy, the management of the gigantic real estate assets and investment funds, including the reserved funds managed by the secretariat, was regrouped within the Heritage Administration. of the Apostolic See (APSA) state until the embezzlement scandal was discovered. The root of many problems is that the information published by the Vatican on its budget is very meager, that of public procurement is minimal and that of its assets is nil. In the administration of public funds, the alternative is: either transparency or corruption. Without transparency, scandals will continue to recur periodically.

-We are waiting for a reform of the curia: you who have just published a book essential to deciphering the Vatican, what are you waiting for, how do you see this reform?

-I see it with a lot of hope because some parts of the reform – cultural and organizational – are already partially achieved. I am concerned that the “size” of dozens of low-utility departments is insufficient. In any case, there is already a greater spirit of service to the Pope and to bishops around the world in departments that previously considered themselves “viceroyalties”. There is yet another decisive shift towards evangelism that is expected to occur when the Apostolic Constitution “Preach the Gospel” is promulgated.

-How do you interpret the opposition to Pope Francis who comes more from Christianity, from within the Catholic Church, than from other religions?

-Pope Francis is considered a light for the whole world, as we have seen during his meetings with the spiritual leaders of the great religions: Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc. Paradoxically, it has suffered from very strong hostility from the conservative Catholic sectors and ultra-conservative pseudo-Catholic media financed above all by the economic and political interests of the United States which do not tolerate the encyclical. rented or his critiques of the armaments macro-enterprise. More recently, the government of [Jair] Bolsonaro and some extractive companies harassed him for his defense of the Amazon. These resistances did not stop him, but they prevented some Catholics from receiving his renewing spiritual message.

-How do you judge the last The Pope’s trip to Iraq?

-It seemed epic to me. Leaving aside some “revolutionary” journeys of John Paul II, I would say that it was, for its content and its symbolic value, “the journey” of the last two pontificates. And a great constructive lesson for the world. I see it as the parable of the Good Samaritan in the 21st century. Despite the risks, the Pope stops to come to the aid of an entire country seriously injured by criminals and abandoned on the side of the road, which others have passed.

– Pope Francis’ weaknesses and strengths?

-Francisco admits to being afraid of being harsh or drastic since he left behind his stage of charismatic Jesuit leadership in Argentina. But some Vatican sanitation reforms require sweeping breaks with the past, even if they unleash a hornet’s nest. Its strengths are numerous. I would like to underline humanity, patience and tenacity.

– What do you expect from the coming years of the pontificate?

-I hope Francisco will further consolidate his spiritual leadership in a world that calls for more brotherhood to find solutions to the four crises of the pandemic – health, economic, ecological and social – just as we are, as he puts it, “Not in an era of change but in a change of era”. And, within Christianity, may he continue his line which unites spirituality with practical charity to help those in need. There are therefore fewer and fewer “theoretical” Catholics.

-Francisco has severe sciatica pain, which was evident on the last trip. Do you think he will follow the example of his predecessor and resign?

-I think so. During international trips, he told us repeatedly to journalists that he would resign when he realized that he did not have the strength necessary for his task, as did Benedict XVI. I really like your apostolic letter of February 15, 2018 “Learning to say goodbye”. Every charge is a service charge, and you need to know how to opt out when it is no longer possible to provide it. The resignation is in fact a great gesture of service.