In his latest interview, Francisco takes up the reformist line with a thorny issue: sex

With the second phase of his pontificate opened with growing controversies, accusations from figures such as Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, personal secretary of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, Joseph Ratzinger, who passed away almost a month ago, the Argentine pontiff reacted with a long interview to the North American agency AP,

The interview mainly focused on the controversy and clashes between conservatives and progressives for the various questions of sexual disputes that have so afflicted the Church.

“Homosexuality is not a crime,” Francis said, admitting that according to Church doctrine it is a sin, an objective disorder. He added that the laws that penalize “they are unfair”. The Vatican refused last year to accept the blessings of same-sex couples promoted by clergy and even bishops in Germany, because “God he cannot bless sins.”

But Francis resumed the reins of the reformist line in the interview, looking at what is coming, and recognized that in some parts of the world there are Catholic bishops who support laws that criminalize homosexuality.

The Pope spoke of “cultural contexts” and sponsored the bishops for “a process of conversion”.

Encyclical on gender theory

The theme is the one that produces the hardest crashes. So much so that in the storm that is engulfing the second phase of his pontificate, one weapon that conservatives are using is that of demanding from the Argentine pope nothing less than an encyclical on the theory of genres. That is to say not only homosexuals and lesbians but also the other variants of the so-called “third sex”, which are more.

Three days ago the Pope received the North American Jesuit James Martin, director of the influential magazine “América”, author of several books on the Church’s relationship with the gender liberation movement which bears the acronym LGBTQ. Not a single sentence of what they spoke about in the 45-minute hearing that slipped out of the hall of the Pontifical Palace.

A few days earlier the Pope had also spoken with Cardinal Willem Jacobus Eijk, bioethicist and great opponent of gender theory, to which the Church opposes the traditional one that accepts only men and women.

Eijk also raised the need for an encyclical to the pontiff on the matter “to end the chaos”.

The question of sex in all its variants registers, for example, this 67 countries penalize same-sex sexual relations. Eleven apply the death penalty. In the United States, more than a dozen states have sodomy laws.

In the interview, Francis cited the catechism of the Church to underline this homosexuals should be welcomed and respected and they should not be marginalized or discriminated against.

In this second phase of his pontificate, the Pope has outlined a strategy that places two assemblies at the centre, Synods of Synods, which will deal with all the great questions of the Church. The first is scheduled for October this year. The second will be needed in 2024 to complete the first. Over a significant period of time, the third year will be dedicated to a Jubilee Holy Year 2025.

The opening of the German Church

These quotes should help an agreement that avoids ruptures and sets in motion the protest of the German Churchwhich in its synodal way proposes itself as the great innovator of Catholicism.

This includes openings to the faithful and homosexual couples, that they are currently blessed in German parishes. Even the transformation of priestly celibacy optional and the opening up of the process of entry of women into the priesthood.

Francis it was critical in Wednesday’s interview He said the German process so far has been led by the elite because it “doesn’t involve God’s people.”

The dialogue “is good” but “German experience doesn’t help.” “The danger is that something very ideological will leak out”, although German leaders say the process “will not cause a schism”.

The Orthodox, Conservatives and Traditionalists respond in unison that even if there is no schism, the German experience summed up in “a growing apostasy” of religion.

Health

In the interview, Francisco said he feels healthy at 86 years old.

A test for his knee problems that prevent him from walking normally even if he is better, he will experience at the end of the month when he visits on a very busy apostolic journey Republic of the Congo and South Sudan. A very important trip that will bring together millions of faithful and which he was forced to cancel last year, when his knee arthrosis got worse.

And the resignation?, said Francisco “I hadn’t even thought about” setting rules for resignation of a future pope. It’s hard to believe given the importance of such an important event as the resignation of Benedict XVI and his almost ten years as pope emeritus.

It is easier to think that Jorge Bergoglio wants to underline this his resignation is not immediate. He clarified that if he resigns as Pope he will be bishop emeritus of Rome. There is only one Pope, let there be no ambiguity on this. He also commented that if the time comes, he prefers to live in the residence for retired priests in Rome.

When will the resignation come?

At an opportune moment.

And when will the right time come?

When it is reached the best result in grouping the reformist sectors of the Church who support the work of the current Pope. And when Francisco believes that the decisive level has been reached to guarantee aan absolute majority vote for the chosen successor to continue the reforms originated in the current pontificate.

And who will be the successor?

Today it is indicated in gossip Vatican to the President of the Italian Episcopal Conference and Archbishop of Bologna, Card. Matteo Zuppi. Roman, 67 years old, neighbor of the Community of Sant’Egidio, an authoritative lay movement.

soaked he identifies with Francis and his reformsbut he knows how to speak to moderates and has always declared himself an admirer of Joseph Ratzinger as a great theologian of the Church.

Vatican correspondent

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