The Past Pontificate, the Conclave

05-04-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Leonard F. Villa

The Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ, Successor of St. Peter, will take place on May 7. Prayer is vital for the Cardinal-Electors, those Cardinals under the age of 80. We need to especially ask the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of the Church, to whose Motherhood May is dedicated, for the Pope we need in these times of fracture, doctrinal confusion, and scandal in the Church, although we should keep this observation of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman in mind as we think about the state of the Church:

But in truth the whole course of Christianity from the first, when we come to examine it, is but one series of troubles and disorders. Every century is like every other, and to those who live in it it seems worse than all times before it. The Church is ever ailing, and lingers on in weakness, "always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in her body." Religion seems ever expiring, schisms dominant, the light of Truth dim, its adherents scattered. The cause of Christ is ever in its last agony, as though it were but a question of time whether it fails finally this day or another. The Saints are ever all but failing from the earth, and Christ all but coming; and thus the Day of Judgment is literally ever at hand; and it is our duty ever to be looking out for it, not disappointed that we have so often said, "now is the moment," and that at the last, contrary to our expectation, Truth has somewhat rallied.

Such is God's will, gathering in His elect, first one and then another, by little and little, in the intervals of sunshine between storm and storm, or snatching them from the surge of evil, even when the waters rage most furiously. Well may prophets cry out, "How long will it be, O Lord, to the end of these wonders?" How long will this mystery proceed? How long will this perishing world be sustained by the feeble lights which struggle for existence in its unhealthy atmosphere? God alone knows the day and the hour when that will at length be, which He is ever threatening; meanwhile, thus much of comfort do we gain from what has been hitherto, —not to despond, not to be dismayed, not to be anxious, at the troubles which encompass us. They have ever been; they ever shall be; they are our portion. "The floods are risen, the floods have lift up their voice, the floods lift up their waves. The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly; but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier." St. John Henry Newman

We are hearing, as the media ruminates on who will follow Pope Francis, the words “conservative” and “progressive” giving these terms political meanings rather than religious meanings. The words conservative and progressive only have meaning in the Church in terms of Catholic orthodoxy. You conserve the truth. Progress occurs from greater understanding and implications of the truth confided to the Church that does not contradict revealed truth but illuminates it more fully. An interview with Cardinal Gerhard Muller, dogmatic theologian, and former Prefect of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, touches on several aspects of Pope Francis’ pontificate. It was an interview conducted by Iacaopo Scaramuzzi in the Italian newspaper Repubblica on April 24, 2025, reported on the Catholic blog Rorate Caeli:

Your Eminence what are your feelings at this moment?
“A chapter in the history of the Church has closed. Clearly, the last judgment is up to God, we cannot judge people. If we talk about the pontificate, however, there are different opinions. There is unanimous appreciation for Francis' engagement with migrants, the poor, and to overcome the divisions between the center and the periphery. On the other hand, however, at some moments he was somewhat ambiguous; for example, when, with Eugenio Scalfari, he spoke about the resurrection. With Pope Benedict we had perfect theological clarity, but everyone has his own charisms and abilities, and I think Pope Francis had them more in the social dimension.”

Did you appreciate that Francis ruled until his last breath, without resigning?
“Yes. Clearly, I don't want to criticize Pope Benedict for his decision, but I have always said that we must avoid the impression that the pope's mission is only a function. Resignation must be an exception, one cannot think that the apostles have retired....”

Should the next pope in his opinion change the blessing of same-sex couples?
“He needs to clarify that. The document approved under Francis was meant to help these people pastorally, but the Catholic doctrine of marriage should not be relativized.” (Note: a blessing should only be seen as helping the person live according to God and His Commandments. It cannot change that marriage is between a man and a woman. Continuing gravely sinful situations cannot be blessed giving the impression God is blessing sin, violating His own Commandments, which is blasphemy also gravely sinful.)

You said the assemblies convened by the pope were a mere symposium.
“The bishops have an authority that cannot be confused with the possibility of all the baptized to speak. It is a conference, which is legitimate, but it is not a synod, it is not an expression of the Magisterium of the Church. Clearly those who understand nothing or little about Catholic theology say: now the Pope changes the Church from an autocracy to a democracy. But it is a wrong premise to confuse the Church with a political organization, like the World Economic Forum or the United Nations.” (Note: “Magisterium” means the teaching authority of the Church from Christ confided to the Pope and bishops, successors of the Apostles. The governance of the Church is hierarchical coming from Christ. Vatican II, Lumen Gentium 3. It cannot not be refit as if the governance of the Church could be changed to imitate secular parliaments or democracies by a Pope.)

Pope Francis appointed a woman prefect of a Vatican dicastery: will it be good to repeat this kind of choice in the future?
“The problem is not the woman, the problem is a laywoman called to preside over what used to be a congregation, which is an expression of the authority of the College of Cardinals. The impression of people from the outside was, 'Ah, at last a woman!' And I think that when it comes to administrative offices like the Governorship, there is no problem with it being run by the laity, but the Roman Curia is an ecclesiastical body.”

Pope Francis has been very committed to dialogue with Islam: should it be continued in your opinion?
“Already St. Thomas Aquinas distinguished things: on the level of reason, we can dialogue with them: they respect certain principles of natural ethics and believe in God in their own way. However, we must ask ourselves how it is possible that one who believes in God, the creator of all men, can kill in the name of God? Dialogue, yes, but avoid all forms of relativism: the Catholic faith is not a singular expression of a universal world religion created by the Davos forum.” (Note: God does not directly will the plurality of religions. His permissive will allowed this from which only He can draw good. This does not cancel the obligation of the Church to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. He does not will the notion that the Christ and the Catholic Faith is not the true religion. Our Lord indicates that no one comes to Father except through Him! John 14:6)

Bergoglio signed a historic agreement with China: will this path be continued?
“Compromises are reached with these powerful dictators, but we cannot betray the principles of our faith, we cannot accept that atheistic Communists, enemies of humanity, write our catechism books or bring the image of Xi Jinping into the churches. We cannot accept Communists appointing bishops.” (Note: The papacy of Francis continued an amnesia of the Church with respect to communism initiated by Pope Paul VI and continued by Pope Francis in his dealings with China. Goodwill on the part of the Church does not change communism, the communists just take advantage of it. Recall the teaching of Pope Pius XI that communism is in its very nature perverse. As with Paul VI’s policy, Francis’ policy occasioned continuing damage to the Church creating the notion of a Church subservient to the communist regime, compromising loyal bishops and faithful who resisted the persecutions of the Church by these regimes. Communist China has long had a puppet schismatic church subservient to the communist regime. Any Pope ought not bow to this. Moreover, day-to-day decisions of a Pope called “prudential decisions” especially, in the area of diplomacy, are not infallible and not necessarily authoritative. The damage done to the Church from Pope Paul’s policy of Ostpolitik is recounted here: https://firstthings.com/the-ostpolitik-failed-get-over-it/)

What should the next pope do and what profile should he have?
“Every pope must serve the mission of St. Peter: he is servus servorum Dei. (the servant of the servants of God) The future pope is not a successor of his predecessor but a successor of Peter.”

Do you think your positions are shared in the College of Cardinals? Do you feel you are a minority?
“It may be that some say, 'These theologians talk, others are pragmatic, they think more about power, influence...' I don't know. Everyone needs to remember that we are the mystical body of Christ, and not an international humanitarian and social organization. This pleases a lot of secularized people, the elite, the oligarchs, who would like the Pope as a symbol of their religion -- but the Pope is not a symbol of secularized religion.” (emphasis added)