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In an exclusive interview with EWTN News, Pope Benedict XVI’s former secretary said “normality is slowly returning” to the Vatican with Pope Leo XIVJan 23, 2026 / 06:27 am (CNA).
Archbishop Georg Gänswein says last year’s change of popes has brought a “whole new positive dimension” to the Vatican.
“Above all, there has been a change for the better in the atmosphere” with Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican’s nuncio to the Baltic states and Pope Benedict XVI’s former secretary told Rudolf Gehrig of EWTN News during a Jan. 20 interview in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Gänswein said he met Leo twice last year, most recently in mid-December.
“Both meetings went very, very well. And the intervening period has made it very clear to me that — to put it somewhat idiosyncratically — normality is slowly returning,” he said, calling it a sign for him that “faith and the Holy Spirit are indeed at work.”
“I used the term normalization. For me, it is important to see that Pope Leo has simply emphasized some matters that are not new, but which have been completely overlooked in recent years.”
Gänswein has been nuncio to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, based out of Vilnius, since 2024. The archbishop’s diplomatic post follows 17 years as the personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI and 11 years as the Vatican’s prefect of the Papal Household.
The nuncio, originally from Germany, also praised Leo’s “clear line when it comes to proclaiming the faith,” which he does “joyfully and convincingly.”
“When you read his catechesis or sermons, you can sense that this is a man who lives and proclaims the faith with an Augustinian spirit,” Gänswein said.
German Synodal Way
The archbishop also addressed the Synodal Way in Germany, also known as the Synodal Path, which is set to hold its sixth and final assembly starting Jan. 29.
Gänswein expressed concern that the process will lead to deeper division in society and the Church, and underlined that any possible reforms must always adhere to established Church teaching.
“Anyone who has followed the events surrounding the Synodal Path from the beginning to the present day can see one important thing, namely that a number of the demands of the Synodal Path lead away from the faith,” he said.
“There is no doubt that there is indeed a need to change and reform certain things here and there. I agree with that,” the nuncio said. “However, what has been shown so far on the Synodal Path is, for me, clear evidence that this is not about a return to a deepening of the faith, but about a watering down of the faith.”
He said any changes cannot differ from the Catholic Church’s position on morality, ethics, the sacramental structure of the Church, or the official authority of bishops.
“I can only hope and pray that this wrong path will simply come to an end soon,” he added.
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The Nuncio’s comments about the Synodal Path as developing in Germany are instructive. His observation that ‘ normality is returning’ to the Papacy is less clear. Surely this is not a comment on the reign of Pope Francis who followed the spirit of St. Francis.
Pope Francis was leading the Catholic Church into a place where our faith and following of church teaching was being compromised. Catholics need to know and read their Scriptures for themselves and the Holy Spirit will guide. Pope Leo appears to be led by the counsel of the Holy Spirit and not the counsel of of certain factions within the church that would have our faith in the back seat, while all social justice avenues would be riding in the front seat. We, as Christian Catholics will be held accountable for what we did as we follow the way Jesus taught. He very clearly told His disciples, if you want to follow me, you must give up your life and I will give you a new life. Blessings ✝️❤️
Jesus spoke and modeled social justice. His life death and resurrection was evidence of His Lovw of God and Love of Neighbor.
Jorge Enrique Mújica
Three US cardinals open battle against Donald Trump | ZENIT – English
Excellent comment
Not true. Pope Francis was a true messenger of Jesus Christ, and was a refreshing change from the disastrous papacy of Benedict XVI, who called for a “smaller but more faithful church”. No room for lost sheep in his book.
I’d say this is an idiotic comment, but that might overshadow just how slanderous is it.
You must be thrilled with a smaller and less faithful church.
From “The Harvard Gazette” September 12, 2025. Author: Christy DeSmith
“Data bolsters theory about plunging Catholic Mass attendance”
The trendlines show nothing distinct prior to 1965, when Vatican II’s changes were announced. But then a sudden decline in monthly service attendance emerges among Catholics and within Catholic-majority countries including Ireland, Italy, and Spain. Other events, including a series of sex abuse scandals, likely contributed to the sustained effect the researchers quantified over subsequent decades.
“In a sense, the findings just bolster something people have been saying for a long time,” Iannaccone remarked. “We’re now able to see, across a broad range of countries, that Vatican II had the long-run effect of substantially reducing rates of church attendance.”
I doubt Harvard researchers are covert “Rad Trads”. And where there was a bloom of resurgence; among the young who would welcome children and Latin- to borrow a phrase from Rod Serling from “The Twilight Zone” episode “The Obsolete Man” Francis patterned himself after e”very dictator who has ever planted the ripping imprint of a boot on the pages of history since the beginning of time”
Francis did nothing to reverse this trend.
Nor did his left-wing posturing do anything about this:
Report: Graduate, college-level seminary enrollments continued to slide
Catholic Review September 30, 2025 Author: Gina Christian
It’s been my experience that most Francis Fans loved his fetishizing the poor and waffling on doctrine and sexual morality.
Not true Joe Kavanagh. Benedict did not call for but predicted a smaller but more faithful Church, a reality self-evident to any rational mind as many Catholics gravitate to accepting repudiations of immutable Catholic witness to God’s truth, preferring instead repentance free ideologies of self-gratification.
Jesus was the original social justice warrior. We are commanded to love one another.
Blasphemy.
Social Justice Warriors don’t love anybody that disagrees with them or their agenda. Most are seething balls of hatred and hypocrisy, not unlike the public nuisances they often idolize that were covered by Paul Johnson in his book “Intellectuals”.
Try telling an SJW that homosexual pseudonogamy is a counterfeit of marriage, see how much love you get from the “love is love” crowd. Don’t do it at work though, because they’ll sick an HR purple hair on you.
If you didn’t want the jab out of principle or medical advice, they were openingly talking about internment camps.
And SJW’s always lie, always project..
Christ never lied or projected. In the words of an SJW “how dare you?”
When a German cleric says something is getting normal,we must ask ourselves, did Jesus’s presence on earth mean that things had “returned to normal”? We must be weary of such comments. The gospel preached by Jesus was revolutionary. It was a love that broke through all what was then considered normal. Pope Francis believed and acted upon this. Let us pray that Pope Leo does the same.
“Pope Francis believed and acted upon this. Let us pray that Pope Leo does the same.”
Surely you are joking.
I’m surprised by his comment.
I loved Pope Francis. I love pope Leo. May he bring God’s holy church. back to holyness and influence in the world.
Bravo!
Amen!
Yes, Jesus should be groundbreaking, but Not a pope. A pope cannot go against the fundamental teachings of the church. Changes in doctrine should never be part of the synodality.
Absolutely!
I also am wary of his comments. The teachings of Jesus put compassion and empathy in the front seat. That doesn’t preclude prayer and teachings. A return to normalcy sound like privilege being threatened by the “other”.
Yes, it is.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 Did you just say that?
I believe he is and thank God for the end of that reign.
Referring to the Geman Synod he says, “Anyone who has followed the events surrounding the Synodal Path from the beginning to the present day can see one important thing, namely that a number of the demands of the Synodal Path lead away from the faith…”
Well, plug in your own metaphor to describe closing the barn door after the horses left. The German Synod’s division has long fallen off the cliff, including their sacrilegious mockeries of a Mass, and it needs to be confronted in precisely this way.
And Leo’s horrible appointments to date, in themselves, have the practical effect of endorsing Catholic anti-Catholicism.
It sounds like it is which is deeply disturbing.
Yea that part disturbs me. Very disrespectful to the late pope.
Not every late Pope is entitled to “respect” or are you going to tell us Honorius, Alexander VI and John XXII deserve respect ex officio?
And since a couple of Francis fans have taken shots at Benedict, “game on”.
The repentance of the good ones is necessary for the “bad” ones to return to the right path. Sr Lucia of Fatima once was very sad and said to a priest:” Father, Our Lady is very sad because neither good ones nor bad ones listened to her message”.
We may get the feeling all is going to be well and this is seen when YouTube posts another exciting video of Pope Leo saying the Our Father in Latin!!!! But his choices for bishops have been anything but!!! Until good men like Archbishop Ganswein are appointed then there may be a return to something like normality
Great observance. The hammer hit the nail on the right place. Leo’s choices of bishops are very far from the teaching of Jesus and the gospels.
@J Mcallion:
Your bingo card is full. You win.
Old adage:
“Personnel is policy.”
“change of popes has brought a “whole new positive dimension” to the Vatican.”
Good
Now let lex orandi prevail and lex credendi and lex vivandi will follow.
Christ’s Truth and unity comes before the pseudo unity of orthodoxy and heterodoxy
I’m not understanding
Are you saying that what Francis spoke wasn’t according to Jesus. I’m sorry but I’m understanding that there was a difference between Francis & Leo& one was correct & the other needs to be corrected l. Please help me know the truth of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ
It’s heart warming to hear a senior cleric pointing out the apparent dangers of the “Synodal Path/Church/Way”.
One hopes that such common sense prevails among those entrusted with the shepherding of the flock.
11Vatican Council(1962) Documents,Nostra Aetate engages the world’s religions in dialogue. The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in other’s religions but rather urges to enter with prudence and charity into discussion and collaboration with members of other religions.In the US, the First Amendment Right is guaranteed by the Constitution:the Right to Faith and to practice that belief. The govt. has the responsibility to accommodate sincerely held belief, upheld by the Restoration of Religious Freedom Act. This accommodation is balanced by compelling govt interest and the least restrictive alternative, in the maintenance of safe, secure and humane environment, with respect and dignity.
I hope this does not mean the old way hiding pedophiles, linning the pockets of Cardinals and bishops. Driving away the very sinners Jesus loved.
Wow, I guess it does.
It’s a shame hoŵ Pope Francis treated Archbishop Ganswein. Let’s only hope that Pope Leo has learned from the previously failed papacy.
Amen Francis himself was confused and confusing.
The true Barque of Peter may be badly lisping but it will never founder. Because HE said so!
Br. Jacques, it is the very lisping bishops and cardinals who are causing the list of the true Barque of Peter. But yes, she will never founder.
Br.: Did you meaning “listing” and not lisping? And, “flounder” and not founder?
We came close with the Arian heresy of the 4th century, and even closer now with Modernism.
Virtually anything is better than the previous maelstrom, Leo XIV, a refreshing difference in management style. For the many, a time of cautious expectation. Will doctrinal integrity be restored, or will what was subverted be ‘cemented in place’ as one Vatican observer said?
To date appointments have reflected the Bergoglian papacy, particularly the selection of Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro, appointed President of the Pontifical Academy for Life [rather than traditional Academy member medical doctor Cdl Willem Eijk] , succeeding Archbishop Paglia in that role as well.
Pegoraro a protege of Paglia and Francis I. “It became a source of controversy due to the inclusion of papers from some theologians arguing for a distinction between moral norms, such as the ban on birth control, and the concrete pastoral application of those norms. In some of the contributions, theologians appeared to suggest that in certain circumstances, couples might be justified in choosing artificial contraception or methods of artificial reproduction” (Google AI backchecked by this writer).
The family is at the heart of a Christian milieu. Where the final battle is waged. Again addressed elsewhere the placement of Cdl Cupich at the Vatican with a foggy rationale, to be proverbially ‘kicked upstairs’ as one insightful commentator suggested on CWR, or as a guise? Certainly, Leo XIV is owed a bit more time to assess whether he’s aptly enfolding a plan to accomplish unity. He’s owed our support. But not our acquiescence in solidifying past errors.
Fr. Morello: the “refreshing difference in managament style” that you appreciate in Pope Leo is not something to really be happy about when you rightly point out the ongoing very problematic appointments made by Leo, albeit not with much if any kind of a rightful condemnation of same. A destroyer with a smile on his face is just as guilty as one with an angry visage.
The jury has come back with a preliminary conclusion: the oft true saying that personnel is policy sadly demonstrates that Pope Leo is failing in his duty to appoint faithful Catholics to important positions. Moreover, keeping the likes of Fernandez in their positions wherein they have brought about great harm to the Church is another serious failure of Pope Leo.
How much more time should be granted to Leo before we can as charitably as possible conclude that Leo is continuing on the destructive path laid out by Francis in all of its essentials?
Agreed although I retain hope.
Yes, and I agree with you….an initial colonoscopy is not the (w)hole story.
My hope is only Christ.
The stratagem employed by PL appears to work well, seducing even the elect, because it is based on completely normal human need, to have a hope.
I miss PF’s time because, compared to Pl, he was much more obvious and even openly obnoxious at times. PL is so much smoother/more “pleasant” but the content remains the same. It is simply packed much better. The overall picture is gleaming with a pleasant halo. But, if one steps back from what he is seeing, his nose being close to the painting, he will begin noticing that what he admires is only a part – and there are other parts which do not really work with the subject of his admiration (and with his hope).
For example, I appreciate how cute it sounds that PL “restored the ancient rite of blessing the lambs on the Feast of St Agnes” but, if you step back you will see that meanwhile the same PL managed to elevated far-too many pro-LGBTQ ideology/openly heretical Bishops; he also appears to be OK with the removal of the kneelers and a prosecution of the Latin Mass which is going on right now in the US churches. Those things really do not go together but in PL they somehow managed to be “united”. It is actually not the unity but splitting or a fake unity, of a mentally ill person. Now, I am not saying that PL is mentally ill; what I am saying that this “unity” is contrary to the healthy human psyche – and to the meaning, because the meanings of the actions of PL listed above cancel each other if they are being considered together, as they should, because they are all happening within one Church.
And here one has a choice: either he will consider all what is happening in the Church through the (broken, fragmented) prism of that fake “unity” or through the prism of Christ Who cannot be broken to pieces (even in the Eucharist, each Host is One whole Christ).
In the first case, measuring everything by PL “unity”, we see the meaningless collage of which each gets a piece: trads get the approval of their “tradness” (blessing of the lambs), liberals get the approval of their ideology (the promotion of openly heretical Bishops), etc. One who unifies those disjoint pieces is PL. He gives a meaning to those irreconcilable contradictions. In him they all come together. Unlike Christ though Who gives meaning to all compatible with Him in His Person, in PL those things lose their meaning via their mutual cancellation. “Blessing of the lambs” loses its meaning being placed next to the destruction of TLM or “blessing of homosexual couples”. Being stripped of its meaning, it becomes a dress, a decorum.
In the case of looking through the prism of the Person of Christ, the situation is different. The collage starts falling apart; it is Christ’s presence which makes a collage of PL meaningless.
I imagine Our Lord saying the following. To PL – “Why on earth you restored blessing the lambs but allow the destruction of the old Mass (and the kneelers)? If you are so fond of the tradition attached to the feast St Agnes, why do you allow the destruction of the WHOLE liturgical tradition? What is bigger, the blessing of the lambs or the Mass?
Re: the election of the pro-LGBTQ Bishops, He would probably say “Very well, you (PL) are choosing something that has nothing to do with Me; in fact, what they say is contrary to Me. Since it is contrary to me, it should be thrown out of My Church.”
And to Archbishop Genistein He would probably say “You have spent so much time with Pope Benedict who measured everything by Me. What is normal for you? There is only one normality, the Church = My Body which matches Me = her Head. Please show me how what is happening in My Church now matches me, her Spouse? – But please look at the whole picture, the whole Church, not some separate disjoint pieces. And by the way, PL did nothing to correct the German Synodal Way you are concerned about; he proclaimed from the very beginning that he will continue “the synodal way” and his actions prove that.
What is your hope based upon?”
Anna, you articulate what underlies my sense of things. If we were to speculate whether the satanic were at work in this, his ultra intelligence for a plan of seduction would be precisely as you describe.
Although, while I don’t possess evidence for conviction, I believe I should retain the theological virtue of hope unless events, for example the lack of theological evidence proves otherwise. That may not be too far ahead.
Also, be reminded Anna, that theological hope does not rest on my or anyone’s personal wisdom on what should occur, rather on the wisdom of God, which surpasses my knowledge. A hope based on faith in God that he will not abandon his elect, who remains faithful. Nor allow them to be drawn into deception.
That faith does not omit the exercise of our own good judgment as events unfold. As already indicated in the Msgr Pegoraro appointment.
My hope is in the Lord. Prayer is what the Lord asks of us for HIS Church. Keep our eyes on HIM and all will be OK. Judas did not foil the Lord’s plan and no pope will either.
Also, Anna, theological hope does not rest on my or anyone’s personal wisdom on what should occur, rather on the wisdom of God, which surpasses my knowledge. A hope based on faith in God that he will not abandon his elect, who remain faithful. Nor allow them to be drawn into deception.
That faith does not omit the exercise of our own good judgment as events unfold. As already indicated in the Msgr Pegoraro appointment.
Normality as in Martin Luther?
To Cardinals and Bishops, who need to earn “due” respect:
-Those with PhD. Just don’t get too big for your britches. You may have to get off your high horse to do penance.
– Theologians. Remember, Satan’s and Adam and Eve’s sins of PRIDE and DISOBEDIENCE.
– Remember, too, that the Pope is Peter and by whose grace he was selected. If he errs in his teachings, he’ll answer to the Lord . NOT TO YOU.
– Remember your Oaths: POVERTY. CHASTITY . OBEDIENce.
“…and when he’ssaid unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing.”
PhD = Piled higher and deeper.
An excellent analysis Fr Peter. I completely agree with all you have said
Thank you for the acknowledgement Fr Fitz.
I hope that this “back to normality” means the ancient practices and clarity of our faith to our brothers and sisters that left our faith regarding what our church really teaches because at some point, many left the faith because they were not properly informed our faith. Many catechumens especially in Europe were Catholics that were not aware what their faith is all about because their parents did not pass to them the beauty of our faith. I hope this is going to be revolutionary and is promising for all of us as social media is becoming the best tool for Catholic apologists to spread our faith and convert many to become Catholics of which the Vatican should supplement these efforts so that this will not just be a bubble in the future. Praying for our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic faith.
God bless from the Philippines
My hope is that people… God’s children…
will be the focus and the center of the Church’s efforts in the world at this time in history.
Amen
Brief change of subject – I just watched the movie ‘Shoes of the Fisherman’ for the first time in probably 20 years.
Interesting
We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming
I watched it a couple of years back also. It was very interesting.
I seem to sense from many respondents, including clergy that they were not in agreement with much of Francis’s direction. Well, I pray for them because even though Leo seems to agree with much of what Francis promoted, he is more measured. Today we need more of Francis, not less. I fear that so many of his critics would be like those that sided with racism in their fight against communism, we get same result, NOT what Christ taught. I fear we will fall back to same ol same ol’ of Curia fight for position of power, not spreading of love as the Gospel according to the teaching of our Lord.
“Today we need more of Francis, not less.”
In what way? More confusion, ambiguity, disdain for doctrine, raw politicking, covering up for abusive bishops and priests who are allies, banal liturgies, undermining of VS and basic moral teachings?
“…I fear that so many of his critics would be like those that sided with racism in their fight against communism…”
A curious comment, especially since in the mid-20th century the biggest opponents of both racism and communists were conservatives, whereas much of the Democratic Party supported both. Recall, for example, the famous example of Sen. Robert Byrd, who was a Ku Klux Klan member as a young man and fought against civil rights for quite some time. He finally came around when it became clear that the only path to political power was to change.
“I fear we will fall back to same ol same ol’ of Curia fight for position of power…”
The Francis pontificate was the epitome of curial politics, infighting, backstabbing, etc. Catch up.
Amen.
You are so right.
“We have a very creative vocabulary for insulting others”
– Pope Francis June 19, 2016
And of course we’re all fairly certain our lives would be completely unencumbered if another Pope never used the word “coprophagia”.
I am but one of the ‘mostly silent’ Catholics who has not always followed the straight and narrow. However, when Pope Francis became the Pontiff, I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging… something that I had not truly felt before. I believe it was from his sense of what I think of as commonality, as truly being one with and of the people. To me, he was real and approachable. A man of God and a man of the people. I will admit that I have no knowledge of the inner workings of the Church nor do I care to. That is not what I seek from my faith. With Pope Francis, I felt comforted to consider him ‘Papa Francisco’.
Agree wholeheartedly. The church of the future can both follow doctrine AND meet us as its flock where we are. It takes investment in humanity over greed. Francis brought so many back home.
“when Pope Francis became the Pontiff, I felt an overwhelming sense of belonging… something that I had not truly felt before.”
Belonging? What does that mean? HR jargon? Belonging to what?
What about John Paul II with his warmth and charisma didn’t offer you the “warm fuzzies”? Were you alive before his physical decline, when he could get tens of thousands to attend outdoor Masses? Candidly, I’m wondering how any adult could use some nebulous emotional response to a public person as a reliable measure of the individual or their competence in office.
Please share what aspects of Francis’ innumerable and routine attacks on people that try-and nobody completely succeeds-to follow the straight and narrow, you found so endearing.
“Rosary counters”, “Restorationist”, “creed reciting parrot Christian”, “Christian hypocrites only interested in their formalities!”, “Fundamentalist!”, “Pelagian”, “Ridged Christians” were dismissive, demoralizing and dispiriting.
Of course while hurling his “promethean” insults he said “Today we are used to insulting each other: one politician insults another, a neighbor insults another, even in the family we insult each other. I dare not say that there is an insult culture, but it is a weapon at hand.” Personally, I hope I never hear another Pope use the word “coprophagia” again.
Of course my favorite was “careerist bishop” (this from the guy that ascended to Pontifex Maximus on the second try and perhaps as the result of some unseemly or illicit palace intrigue).
In the twelve years I received calls from Protestant friends, not celebratory but often genuinely concerned by Francis’ latest cringeworthy utterance, I had to wonder how such a dour, rash and undisciplined man was ever considered for anything but obscurity.
Frankly, after his public insubordination over Regensberg, Benedict should have buried him in some dark archive.
I hope and pray that we get Normalcy in our Church! We need more leaders such as Archbishop Georg Ganswein and Bishop Strickland!!! Thank you.
Strickland is no longer serving as a bishop. He was removed by Pope Francis after opposing some of his ideas. (Some of which I agree with, but you have to be obedient.) Strickland is conservative and I liked him for his stance on the sanctity of life, but he crossed a line by going against the Holy Father.
People have got to stop making heroes and martyrs out of these rogue priests and bishops who are constantly trying to circumvent the papacy by saying that they are only “protecting Holy Mother Church”. God guides His Church, and He promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The same can be said for the German bishops, and Fr James Martin etc.
Also, the Church is not going to return to “normalcy”, as it’s always been under attack in one way or another. To think otherwise is a waste of time. God calls us to be faithful Catholics, whether in public or private. Great discussions and debates are absolutely necessary, but everything in moderation.
I like CWR, but it’s gotten petty sensationalist as of late, such as publishing articles about the TLM and Vatican II, which they know will only lead to ugly arguments in the comment section, which in turn leads to inter-division among the Catholic faithful.
“I like CWR, but it’s gotten petty sensationalist as of late, such as publishing articles about the TLM and Vatican II….”
Hardly. CWR has been posting articles and commentary about liturgy and Vatican II for decades. Judging CWR by the comments is not fair or reasonable. In my experience (having edited CWR since 2012), the ugliness in the comboxes has certainly increased, but CWR has not deviated from its focus and tone. Put another way, it’s not CWR’s fault that divisions that have long existed (many of them rooted the immediate post-Vatican II era), or that people want to debate them. If readers want non-controversial, pious pablum, I’m sure there are outlets for that.
“…which in turn leads to inter-division among the Catholic faithful.”
It can be reasonably said, with plenty of evidence, that Pope Francis did far, far more to deepen divisions among Catholics than CWR ever could. We believe unity can only exist in truth. So there’s that.
Mr Olson:
You are a very fair person. It’s not CWR’s fault. And to everyone else here, I’m not a progressive liberal Catholic. I’m a young conservative, pro-life, old-soul Catholic man. I’m just tired of the ugly arguments and infighting among Catholics, especially in the comment sections, about issues relating the English or Latin Mass, or Vatican II.
As someone who attends the Byzantine-rite liturgy as well, there doesn’t seem to be a liturgy war in the Eastern Churches (except for the Syro-Malabar issues, etc)
I’m only urging unity among the Catholic faithful, no matter their liturgical preference. Pope Francis may not have been the best at uniting Catholics, but Bishop Strickland certainly wasn’t either, nor was James Altman.
God bless, and have a fruitful upcoming Great Fast.
Thank you for your remarks here; they are helpful.
I’ve sometimes had a little thought exercise, having now been in a Byzantine Catholic parish since 1999: What if the Vatican, seemingly out of nowhere, told Byzantine Catholics that, starting in a few months, the priest had to “face the people,” everything in the Divine Liturgy had to be in vernacular, the icon screen would need to be mostly or completely removed, and many of the prayers, responses, etc., in the Divine Liturgy were being changed or removed. That sounds crazy, but that’s essentially what happened in the West in November 1969. Then imagine if Byzantine Catholics were told that that such changes were not only an improvement, but wishing to celebrate the “traditional Divine Liturgy” is not only wrong, but essentially schismatic.
So, yes, the arguments are often ugly. I agree on that point. But It’s good to ponder how we got to where we are. Because (as I’ve said before), I think Paul VI did the Church a deep disservice in how he handled (or just allowed) the liturgical chances to take place in the West.
Thank you again!
And thank you Mr Olson. There hopefully will be an end to the liturgical battle.
I’d say that the biggest issue is not about whether the Mass is said in Latin or English, but with the priest facing the people. I don’t believe that the hijacking of the Roman Mass is necessarily the fault of the Vatican, but rather the fault of the boomer liberal priests (and laypeople) who knowingly subverted the Mass for their own agenda.
One last thing: May I call you Carl?
God bless! IC XC
NI KA, Dan
Should St. Paul have backed St. Peter on his neglect and avoidance of Gentile Christians, or just kept quiet about it? St. Paul seems to have thought it merited opposing St. Peter “to his face”, and he didn’t exactly keep it private either, given that we can read about it centuries later. Bishops have a moral obligation to teach doctrine clearly, and to respond to confusion over it where they are capable. It’s not just something they could do if they’re interested in that sort of thing, but really just a hobby.
There’s an obvious difference in kind between rebuking a prelate for something that he said or did that is wrong, and publicly disagreeing with a prelate in a matter where *you* are wrong. Divine Revelation really does outrank the Pope, and none of us do. Heretics and schismatics are not wrong simply because they oppose the Pope, but because they do so wrongly, in that they also oppose God (who’s a tiny bit more important than the Pope).
A reminder for unity uber alles crowd.
“Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.”
Luke 12:51
“People have got to stop making heroes and martyrs out of these rogue priests and bishops”
So most of the German episcopacy and priests like Jimmy Martin and Timmy Radcliffe?
McCarrick ring a bell? Weakland? Mahoney, Timlin and a few others defied the valid and licit order from their successor and were engaged in public ministry after their scandalous maladministration became known.
Ultimately, PF should have been as tolerant of Strickland as he was of so many others. For all his posturing, he was curiously tolerant of some things and intolerant of others.
“I like CWR, but it’s gotten petty sensationalist as of late…”
Hardly. I wouldn’t follow it, er, “religiously” every day if it were sensationalist. I gave up Fox News on account of incessant sensationalism and click-baiting. Catholic World Report is a reliable, factual, unsensational source of news and opinion.
Thank you, Andrew.
Mr Saucci
Feedback accepted,and previously did some reflection before reading your post. I’m just tired of the ugly arguments on the CWR comment sections. Fully agree with you about Fox News and their click bait etc. I gave up reading townhall/redstate news, they’re even worse. God bless.
Christ expects His Church to be Faithful; it is not normal to accommodate and promote manifest heretics who deny sin is sin in Christ’s Church. Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, And Apostolic Church Exists for The Salvation Of Souls.
Evangelizing the world leaders of his time with appropriate doses of the Good News was a significant effort by the late Pope Francis.
Cardinals, Archbishops, bishops, priests, deacons, Reverend Sisters, Reverend Brothers, and clerically inclined lay leaders and their followers hugely benefitted from the relentless ministry of the late Pontiff.
In Matthew 21:13, during the cleansing of the Temple, we are informed of what Jesus had to say: “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it something else”. Pope Francis could call a spade a spade, and therein lies his unique charism.
Generations of people of goodwill among Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Bahai’s, Taoists, atheists, agnostics, people from traditional beliefs, and Christians will marvel at having been blessed with a unique human being in the person of the late Pope Francis. May is tribe increase.
“May is tribe increase.” (Did you mean “his”? not “is”?)
Can we assume, Dr. Cajetan, you meant that Pope Francis’ tribe increase? Maybe the prayer should be “May our Lord Jesus Christ’s tribe increase”? The “tribe” is the Lord’s. I’m sure you would agree. Your statement reminds me of today’s second reading of the N.O. Mass.
“10 I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloʹe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brethren. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apolʹlos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17)
Benedict and Ganswein’s relationship veered into inappropriate in a host of ways, as did the absolute power Ganswein wielded (inappropriately) for years within the Vatican. Francis brought commitment to vows of poverty and a greater focus on protecting children. Leo, thus far, has been wonderful. That said, the concept that things were in any way “normal” under Benedict or Ganswein’s influence is a fallacy.
Define “inappropriate”
Define “absolute”
Define “commitment”.
And by all means tell us how you are privy to the “absolute power”. you claim was “wielded”.
Will say and do anything to get ‘ out of the wilderness’ that Francis put him into. When Benedict left., G. Lost status and power… you would think being archbishop would be enough. I would be careful of this man
Amen
When people learn to understand the trinity they will truly be born again as trinitarians
Be amendable in religion
Each Pope brings his own unique gifts & charisms to the church as guided by the Holy Spirit. Doctrines & its teachings hopefully lead one to its implementation & loving action, what I’ve seen & lived with, from Pope Francis. The “whys” of doctrines from then, Pope Benedict XVI.
Social justice,care of the poor & marginalized is our clarion call right now to bring back & invite fallen catholics to the church. I have seen that in Pope Francis, the return of those who have been away. Prayers for Pope Leo XIV as he guides us all, to a meaningful love of traditions & actions. Thank you.
Well said, Carl.
Bookish CWR is hardly sensationalist!
One always enjoys reading CWR… for the sincerity and stimulation of its short pieces on faith and Church politics during these trying times for Catholics. Just the right balance.
Keep up the great work 😉
MR CN
Diogenes Redux above (8:25 a.m.) It is indeed “founder”. “Flounder” is a fish.
I’m stunned by some of these comments. For the record, I am with Mr. Olson (11:42 a.m.).
We are told that the Holy Spirit guides the election of all our popes including Francis and Leo. Scripture tells us that Jesus was born into poverty. All I see from the Vatican is wealth. Exuberant, opulent robes, luxurious accommodation etc. Career Bishops, Cardinals etc. How would you explain this to Jesus if he stood before you? How would you answer him when he asks how did you help the woman who was raped and is pregnant? Did you put a roof over her head? Did you feed the children searching for scraps of food in rubbish dumps? Pope Francis championed the poor, he tried to reduce the hypocrisy of Vatican wealth. I’d suggest Jesus is saying ‘Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing’.
And what have YOU done about these things?
Pope Leo is the eighth pope I have lived under, and each one has helped me to see Jesus in a clearer way. I am truly thankful for the eight popes I’ve lived under, and am also truly excited about our present pope, Pope Leo. The word “normal” is one word taken from the archbishop’s interview. I am hard-pressed to think the word “normal” should capture the total interview of the archbishop. Nor should “normal” capture the eight popes that I have been blessed to live under. The only word to capture our faith journey, or opinions, is “Jesus”.
We deal constantly with people who respond to situations in different ways due to training, work, orientation and life experiences that form our perceptions on life and society. Diversity implies uniqueness/differences, the products of culture, religion, race, personality which are factors that do not have a clear dividing line causing tensions and conflicts. We must first be comfortable in one’s culture, take time to observe and learn. In principle, when we move and come to a new place, take time to know people and environment, get accustomed and learn rather immediately changing and implementing that too often cause disruption and tension, be aware of other’s culture; tolerance, patience, persistence in extending welcome and possibility of involvement with others, openness, work together toward the blending of cultures in one community that does not destroy ones culture.
Each one of us has a cultural bias, that is, the formation of ideas that are imprinted and shaped to form the self. We must first understand this cultural bias then, transcend it for the common good.
The nucio still speaks like he is Benedict’s guy.i wouldnt trust him
Uncharitable paranoia, while fairly common these days, is never a good look.
Jesus said “weep not for me but for yourselves and for your children”
If you believe that Christ can and will take care of His Church then STOP criticizing our popes. Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo obviously love Christ and His body (the Church). Truly, some of the comments here seem childish and divisive to me.
I love what Pope Leo is doing so far and I must say Pope Francis was dear to me and to many. He was a strong father figure. Very loving, caring and understanding. Christ came for the sinners not for “the holy”
He was indeed a father who had time for his children period.
Are we perfect? First,Let’s worry about the final destination of our souls and that of our children as Christ implied, pray for the Church instead, and trust that Christ will take care of His Church.
So, to pick just one example: is it wrong to criticize a pope who had a clear pattern of protecting many bishops and priests who were credibly accused and even found guilty of direct sexual abuse or covering up such abuse?
If so, why so?
2nd Chronicles 7:14…If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I turn hear from heaven will forgive their sins and heal their land. Love in God, Mrs. Kay Diemer 01-25-26
About the meaning of “normalcy”, Gänswein is simply walking in step (vademecum!) with the self-evident wisdom of Winston Churchill: “If we open a quarrel between our past and the present, we have no future.”
How many times under Pope Francis were non-amnesiacs branded as “bigots, rigid, fixistic, and backwardist”? Normalcy is simply waking up in the morning and noticing that this version of “dialogue” has stopped.
And your constructive memory is alive as ever.
Now where did I leave that coffee perking between memory and the future!
True, as our Call to Holiness has always been a Call to be Faithful To The Word Of God, it is not a Call to debate Him.
To avoid death by God’s war snowstorms strong earthquake in the middle of a snow hurricanes wildfires floods tornadoes lightnings blizzards fires strong earthquakes more mag 7 earthquake tsunami volcano meteorite Nipah in Europe in Asia in Africa in the Pacific Ocean in North and South America Pope Leo non-Muslims to convert to Islam and Muslims to convert to islam to apply the Quran 100% immediately January 29, 2026.
Say what? Diagram that diaphragm, or that sentence, or whatever it is…
But, about “Pope Leo non-Muslims to convert to Islam,” here’s the response from St. John Paul II from over thirty years ago, for the functionally literate:
“Whoever knows the Old and New Testaments, and then reads the Koran, clearly sees the process by which it completely reduces Divine Revelation. It is impossible not to note the movement away from what God said about Himself, first in the Old Testament through the Prophets, and then finally in the New Testament through His Son. In Islam all the richness of God’s self-revelation, which constitutes the heritage of the Old and New Testaments, has definitely been set aside . . . . Some of the most beautiful names in the human language are given to the God of the Koran, but He is ultimately a God outside of the world, a God who in only Majesty, never Emmanuel, God-with-us. Islam is not a religion of redemption. There is no room for the Cross and the Resurrection. Jesus is mentioned, but only as a prophet who prepares for the last prophet, Mohammed. There is also mention of Mary, His Virgin Mother, but the tragedy of redemption is completely absent. For this reason not only the theology but also the anthropology of Islam is very distant from Christianity” (John Paul II, “Crossing the Threshold of Hope,” Alfred Knopf, 1994, pp. 92-3).