Challenges Confronting the Upcoming Pontiff
Title: Unfinished Business: The Challenges Facing Pope Leo XIV
By Andrea Affaticati, Milan
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Pope Leo XIV, the new Pope, held a speech quoting his predecessor, Pope Francis, three times, indicating a close relationship between the two. However, the new Pontiff may sometimes find himself scratching his head, as Francis left him an intricate inheritance of unfinished reforms and open projects.
Pope Leo XIV may find himself dealing with various issues, including:
Financial Woes and Corruption
The Vatican, with its administrative apparatus of 5,000 employees, is a state in deep financial trouble, with an annual deficit of approximately 80 million euros. While Francis once reduced the cardinals' salaries three times in the past four years, his initiatives, such as the "Zero Deficit" program and the commission for fundraising, seemed to have little impact. The Vatican pension fund's passive is currently at 650 million euros due to poor investments, corruption, and decreased contributions, primarily from the USA and Germany.
Synodality and Decentralization
Synodality, which refers to joint consultation, decision-making, and progress within the Church, and simultaneously decentralization of church institutions and de-bureaucratization are additional tasks on Leo XIV's agenda. These reforms were proposed by Francis but faced strong resistance, delays, and occasional blunders.
Abuse and Accountability
Measures to combat abuse, including pedophilia, the blessing of same-sex couples, and the diaconate for women, are still crucial topics that demand attention, given the discontent they caused during Francis's pontificate.
Ongoing Investigations
The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, the 15-year-old daughter of a Vatican employee, requires further investigations. While investigations were agreed upon under Pope Francis, no substantial progress has been reported.
Divisions within the Church
Divisions within the Church, especially regarding divorced and remarried individuals receiving communion and blessings for same-sex couples, remain contentious issues. One of the most resolute opponents of these openings has been German cardinal and theologian Gerhard Ludwig Müller.
Diakonia and Women's Roles
Despite raising hopes, Pope Francis failed to fulfill his promise of gradually transferring responsibilities in the Vatican to women. The appointment of Sister Raffaella Petrini and Sister Alessandra Smerilli as the head of state and an economist, respectively, was a step in the right direction, but the diakonia did not materialize.
As Pope Leo XIV embarks on his new journey, he might follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, but with a pragmatic approach different from his predecessor. The challenges he faces are complex, and addressing them will demand his full attention and leadership.
- Pope Leo XIV will likely grapple with the financial instability of the Vatican, inheriting an inheritance that includes financial woes, corruption, and ineffective reform initiatives.
- He will also find himself addressing controversial and divisive issues within the Church, such as tackling abuse, including pedophilia, and supporting measures like the diaconate for women and blessings for same-sex couples.
- Furthermore, the new Pope will be called upon to support ongoing investigations, like the one into the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi, and act pragmatically in implementing reforms, like synodality and decentralization, which were proposed by Pope Francis but faced numerous obstacles.
