Collegiality melts down between Pope and Italian bishops

Deep unease between the Pope and the Italian bishops

On 22 May, the 77th plenary assembly of the Italian bishops took place at the Vatican, bringing together Pope Francis and the 200 or so bishops who make up the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI). The atmosphere at this meeting, held behind closed doors from 22 to 25 May, was fraught with criticism from the Holy Father and resistance to the synod. The Pope reminded the bishops that a change of mentality was necessary, and asked them to adopt "a new style", referring to the "synodal path", and to "never abandon charity".

In his edition of 2 June, Vatican expert Filippo Di Giacomo gives his version:

"Pope Francis in fact improvised some reflections that the General Secretary of the CEI, Mgr Giuseppe Baturi, summarised by stressing "the urgency of a new evangelising impetus that passes through a credible witness"."

The Roman Pontiff literally "gave a dressing down" (sic) to the members of the CEI, referring in no particular order to their "unhealthy relationship with money", reproaching them for "inaction" in the management of certain seminaries judged to be "eccentric and defective" and deploring the fact that his demands were "not sufficiently taken into account".

The following day, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi - President of the CEI - presided over the meeting. He stressed the need to correct the "excessive bureaucracy" that exists within the episcopate, complaining in passing about the "resistance" of many diocesan priests to the synodal process...

The Vatican expert from La Repubblica points out:

"Everyone knows that the clergy are fed up, but no one dares to point the finger at the real cause".

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