There’s no Knowing What He’ll do

Amazing words on Pope Francis from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. While John Allen, on the occasion of the second anniversary of Bergoglio’s election, still writes of the “Miracle Francis” and expounds on the latter’s “mystical experiences,” the leading German language newspaper suddenly takes a decidedly more critical view. Author Markus Günter writes, for example:

It’s the Last Straw

… The unprecedented wave of sympathy which the Pope triggered immediately upon taking office two years ago is now slowly receding. Some experienced a rude awakening when he admonished Catholics not to behave like “rabbits.” For others a border was crossed when he said he would answer anyone who would insult his mother with a “punch in the nose.”…. The spokesman of the Vatican and bishops throughout the world made a genuine effort to explain that which was hardly explainable, that the Pope had not meant it ‘thus’ but in a totally different way…. But, on the side, even the faithful apologists of the Pope lost for the first time their patience: does this have to be so? Does he think at all about the effect of his words? ….For the first time a new opinion took hold: it’s the last straw…. Among the American bishops the expression “loose cannon” has been circulating for a long time when the subject of Francis came up.

and:

Those who should know (the causes of Francis’ behaviour), have appeared for a long time now extremely discouraged. To be sure, a certain learning curve is visible, but the essence of the problem cannot be changed: Francis does not allow anyone to tell him what he has to do or not do. The free, spontaneous, often unreflected word – which he has not carefully tested on the scales – simply corresponds to his character. He is most content when he can simply speak out loud without the need to respect liturgical rubrics or diplomatic practices. Every external constraint – the papal vestments, the apartments of the Apostolic palace, prepared speeches, or the strict ritual of the Vatican – is basically distasteful to him.

and:

Between the Pope and his subordinates the final rupture came on this day ( that of the Pope’s Christmas address to the Curia). Even today it is a mystery why nobody had explained to the Pope the obvious fact: after a Christmas address of this kind no boss could count on the full support of his subordinates.

And much much more.

Of course all this has been obvious for many months now, but for the first time that I am aware one of the major media of the world has pointed out that the emperor has no clothes. Lovers of conspiracy theories will undoubtedly speculate what has led the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to break the code of omertà. The “FAZ” has shown in recent years willingness to work hand in glove with the German bishops’ conference. Could this extraordinarily frank article be the journalistic equivalent of Cardinal Marx’s address a few weeks ago which talked of the German church going its own path? Could it represent a second shot across the bow of team Francis, given them a foretaste of what will come if the Bishop of Rome can’t deliver what the German church expects at the upcoming synod?