Consistory Crash Out: Leo Doubles Down On Vatican II, Bergoglio Agenda
More of the same from the occupiers in Rome.
Anyone who hoped that Leo would become “his own man” and re-orient, even in the slightest, the direction of the Conciliar Church at the much anticipated consistory this week has just received a rude wake up call.
The ghost of Jorge Bergoglio loomed large over the meeting, which lasted a whopping day and a half and allowed the cardinals mere minutes to share their concerns about the state of the Church with their fellow comrades.
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The first sign that Prevost’s goal was to further his predecessor’s agenda was the homework he assigned: re-read Evangelii Gaudium and Praedicate Evangelium, both products of the Francis regime.
The second indicator Bergoglio’s influence would be felt was Leo’s decision to invite pro-LGBT Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe to preach the opening meditation. True to form, Radcliffe — who is seemingly intent on looking as disheveled as he can possibly be every time he appears in public — urged the cardinals to have an “openness to novelty.” How inspiring!
It’s worth noting that Radcliffe told The Telegraph just prior to the consistory that he supports “moving ahead quickly” with ordaining women to the diaconate. He also said Leo was elected to ensure that the “synodal” Church continues. 🤦
Vatican reporter Michael Haynes has been providing important updates via his X account and Substack blog Per Mariam. Yesterday, he shared a photo taken by L’Osservatore Romano showing Prevost surrounded by the usual suspects: Kissy Fernandez, Roche, Greche, and others. How much more do influencers need to realize this is Francis 2.0?!
Looking back now, it seems rather obvious that the Latin Mass proposal of Fr. Louis-Marie de Blignières was an attempt by the more conservative-minded clergy to force the issue after they realized there wouldn’t be much time to discuss it.
Multiple outlets have confirmed that the cardinals moved quickly to ensure Synodality would be the main topic of discussion. Haynes himself reported that at least one prelate (Cardinal Burke perhaps?) felt deflated by that development:
“One participant lamented that the College of Cardinals did not seem to have liturgy as a priority in their outlook, nor that they had a correct understanding of the Church’s identity. He lamented that the path of Pope Francis was very much being followed.”
Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register asked ultra-liberal Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg about the liturgy. Hollerich said he wasn’t “against” discussing it but that “I do not like sometimes the values that are attached to [the Latin Mass] — no interreligious dialogue, not accepting the Second Vatican Council and so on.”
The Pillar has also reported that several attendees were "ambivalent” towards the topic. “I’m just here to listen,” one Latin American cardinal said. “I’m indifferent to that question,” Timorese Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva told the press.
For what it’s worth, Leo did say that the “other themes” of the consistory (i.e. the liturgy and Curial reform) are “not lost” and that he wants cardinals to share their concerns with him on those topics in the future. Perhaps the Mass will be taken up at the next consistory in June?
Leo’s opening address was a clear sign he intends to complete his predecessor’s agenda. Below is a Tweet I published summarizing the most significant excerpts of his speech. If you want to read it in full, click here.
Leo fully intends to double down on Vatican II. On Wednesday, just one day before the consistory, he said the following:
“Therefore, while we hear the call not to let its [Vatican II] prophecy fade, and to continue to seek ways & means to implement its insights, it will be important to get to know it again closely, and to do so not through ‘hearsay’ or interpretations that have been given, but by rereading its documents & reflecting on their content.
Indeed, it is the Magisterium that still constitutes the guiding star of the Church’s journey today.”
According to Haynes, Leo will continue talking about Vatican II every Wednesday:
Archbishop Viganò published the following post on X Thursday morning. It is an excellent summation of the situation at hand:
My only question now is: where does Trad Inc. go from here?
I would have only been surprised if matters had gone otherwise. As one priest told me this is a chastisement, the very part of the Third Secret in re Fatima suppressed by the Vatican. Keep reporting, we have gone to count on your getting things right.
To get us hyped on Vatican 2, I wonder if Louie Verrechio’s previous catechetical series on “Harvesting the Fruits of V2” will be used or his current series “Vatican 2 Revisited”??