Dictator Pope uses Motu Proprios as instruments of his government. Pope Francis may not be as synodal as they say!
Church government through Motu Proprio
The publication in recent days of a new Motu Proprio by the Pope invites us to look at these decrees from the Pope's hand with a little hindsight.
Since its inception, Pope Francis' Pontificate has been placed under the sign of collegiality, of synodality... imprinting the fact that the Sovereign Pontiff's prerogatives are ultimately quite restricted. Yet this Pontificate is in fact one of Motu Proprio, i.e. papal decrees for the Church as a whole or for a particular group. There have been 64 Motu Proprio signed by Pope Francis in 10 years of Pontificate... which is far more than his predecessors:
Pope Paul VI - 15 years of Pontificate: 48 Motu Proprio - just over 3 a year
Pope John Paul I - 1 month Pontificate: 3 Motu Proprio - 3 a month!
Pope John Paul II - 27 years of Pontificate: 31 Motu Proprio - just over 1 a year
Pope Benedict XVI - 8 years of Pontificate: 13 Motu Proprio - just over 1.5 a year
Pope Francis - 10 years of Pontificate: 64 Motu Proprio - almost 6.5 a year
In the end, Pope Francis may not be as synodal as they say!
Cathcon: Coercive Pope
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