Politicians around the world reacted to
the death of Pope Francis. France turned off the lights of the Eiffel
Tower in honor of Francis, and Donald Trump ordered flags to be lowered
across the United States to mark his death. Here are some reactions from
Catholic writers.
Ed Condon, The Spectator: "He penned
not a new symphony but a violent cacophony, leaving behind him a Church
more divided – geographically, theologically, and liturgically –than it
has been in decades, and a Vatican teetering on the brink of
insolvency."
Peter Kwasniewski, Rorate-Caeli.blogspot.com:
"Beyond the image of bonhomie he strove to project, sometimes betrayed
by uncontrollable outbursts (such as when he slapped the hand of an
overly intrusive tourist), those in the Holy Palaces feared his
disorderly outbursts and his lack of patience, to the point that they
sometimes hid in the corridors when they saw him passing."
Archbishop
Charles Chaput, FirstThings.com: "His personality tended toward the
temperamental and autocratic. He resisted even loyal criticism. He had a
pattern of ambiguity and loose words that sowed confusion and conflict.
In the face of deep cultural fractures on matters of sexual behavior
and identity, he condemned gender ideology but seemed to downplay a
compelling Christian “theology of the body.” He was impatient with canon
law and proper procedure. His signature project, synodality, was heavy
on process and deficient in clarity. Despite an inspiring outreach to
society’s margins, his papacy lacked a confident, dynamic evangelical
zeal. The intellectual excellence to sustain a salvific (and not merely
ethical) Christian witness in a skeptical modern world was likewise
absent."
Christopher Altieri, CatholicWorldReport.com: "Pope
Francis appeared happy to let people either criticize him for imprudence
or decry him as a traitor to the Gospel or else elaborate an orthodox
construction on their own. Pope Francis the man was a figure of
astounding complexity and deep mystery, at once disclosing and revealing
himself in the myriad unscripted words and surprise decisions […] not
only in the pontificate but in the papal office. Such marvels were
almost commonplace throughout his pontificate."
Edward Pentin,
EdwardPentin.co.uk: "He ruled autocratically, not unusual for a pope who
has all legislative, executive and judicial powers, but Francis issued
more papal decrees, not dissimilar to executive orders, than any pope in
modern history. Under his watch, bishops, priests, religious and laity
who had been bearing good fruit in terms of reverence, spiritual life,
fidelity to Catholic doctrine, and booming vocations were cancelled or
ostracized."
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