Francis has launched a strong appeal for the unity of the Church, amid criticism from traditionalist sectors

From the funeral of Benedict XVI, they look like the controversies that have always existed secretly in the Holy See to be exploded indeed. And precisely in these days when the week of prayer for Christian unity is being celebrated, the Pope Francis tries to close ranks and dispel divisions.

“This is the path that the Church has shown us: all of us, including the Pastors of the Church, are under the authority of the Word of God,” said the pontiff in his homily during mass in the Vatican basilica in S. Parola di God.

“Not under our tastes, tendencies and preferences, but under the one Word of God that molds us, converts us and he asks us to unite in the one Church of Christ“, he added, reinforcing the call for unity.

“If salvation is meant for everyone, even the most distant and lost, then the proclamation of the Word must be the main urgency of the ecclesial community”, he affirmed, reinforcing the idea of ​​putting aside involvement in dividing discussions .

Promoting generosity and understanding within Catholic ranks, Francis suggested that “we don’t happen to profess a broad-hearted God and to be a small-hearted Church; this would be, I venture to say, a curse“, he indicated.

But, above all, the Pope invited us to put Christ back at the center, not to “disperse ourselves in so many secondary activities or in so many secondary discussions”.

And to the traditionalists, the sector that most questioned his pontificate, he reiterated that “the Word of God does not crystallize in abstract and static formulas, but knows a dynamic history made up of people and events, words and actions, developments and tensions. “.

The Argentine pontiff defended that the Word of God “is not intended only for the just but for everyone” and invited his Church to “open up to the people”.

“He wants to reach those who are far away, he wants to heal the sick, he wants to save sinners, he wants to gather the lost sheep and lift up those who have a tired and oppressed heart (…) Let us not forget it, God’s mercy is for everyone”, he said.

Criticisms and reproaches

Francis’ words this Sunday were not a direct allusion, but seemed to be a response to the criticisms that have emerged from conservative Catholic sectors following the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the last day of 2022.

The most recent blow to his pontificate came Saturday from Cardinal Gerhard Müller, whom Francis deposed in 2017 as Guardian of Orthodoxy. Müller accused the pontiff of being surrounded by a “magic circle” of people in his headquarters-accommodation in Santa Marta,

Saturday, the previews of a book-interview by the former Prefect for the Doctrine of the Faith entitled “In good faith” appeared in the Italian media, written with the Vatican correspondent of the Messaggero di Roma, Franca Giansoldati, and which will be on sale next week . the next.

Last week criticism of the Pope was read in some documents of Cardinal George Pell – considered a reference by the most conservative sector of the Vatican – which were published after his death on January 10th.

As revealed by the media “Settimo cielo”, Pell was the author of a memorandum which is divided into two articles: “The Vatican today”, in which he believes that “this pontificate is in many respects a disaster, a catastrophe”, and “The forthcoming conclave”, which assures that the College of Cardinals “has been weakened by eccentric appointments”.

On the other hand, Francis also appears criticized in the book “Nothing but the truth”, written and published by Monsignor Georg Gänswein, personal secretary of the late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, another point of reference for the more traditionalist sector Inside the Vatican walls.