Cardinal Burke's "resistance" to Bergoglio and those anti-Francis posters

The cardinal played an important role in the election of Leo XIV. But with the previous pontiff he was close to "losing his hat". Here's why

All observers agree on the role played by Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke in the last Conclave. But in the circles around the sacred rooms, these days, more than one anecdote is being told about how (and why) the American cardinal was close to "losing his hat" with Pope Francis.

In the assembly that elected Pope Leo XIV - Vatican experts agree - Burke was decisive, convincing the North American cardinals, first and foremost Timothy Dolan, and conservative ones like Robert Sarah and Gherard Ludwig Mueller to vote for the former prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. Prevost and Burke, moreover, have one thing in common: they are two canonists. And then, not secondary, they are both Americans.

During the Pontificate of Pope Francis, however, the traditionalist cardinal essentially led what in jargon was called "resistance". An opposition to the open-minded moves of Pope Bergoglio that culminated in the signing of the Dubia on Amoris Laetitia. Burke, together with Cardinal George Pell, led a small group of cardinals who were very attentive to the fate of traditional doctrine. Among the points brought forward was also the defense of the Vetus ordo. Another issue for which, after Traditionis custodes, some cardinals "battled" with the former archbishop of Buenos Aires.

It is in this climate that Burke was gradually downsized by the Holy See. From the apostolic signatura to the Sovereign Order of Malta, the American cardinal was gradually removed from the roles he held. And so it was even claimed in the press that Pope Francis had taken away his home and salary. Then the key moment. In Vatican Communications circles, in the midst of great friction between the group led by the American cardinal and the Argentine pontiff, the hypothesis arose that Burke could be "removed from office". The risk, in short, was that of "de-Cardinalised" (In Italian works as unhinged - the Cardinals are literally the hinge of the Church). Also because there was no lack of historical precedents.

It is at this point in the story that several posters critical of Jorge Mario Bergoglio were put up in Rome. Billboards attacking the Pope's management of the commissioners (especially of the Franciscans of the Immaculate) and the treatment reserved for some cardinals.

According to what we understand, the initiative was carried out by a pro-life journalist and some of his friends. An example, in short, of how a strong laity can influence the moves of the Vatican's high spheres.

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