Why Are Pope Francis' Reforms Slow Running?
Four years ago on March 13, Argentine Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio inherited the throne of St. Peter to become Pope Francis. Since then, he has embarked on the arduous task of implementing reforms in the Holy See that is stained with scandals involving corruption and clerical abuse.
Four years is enough time to enforce the changes Pope Francis committed at the start of his term, but his campaign hardly made a dent in a bureaucracy occupied by unrepentant members. Some of them have openly objected efforts to make Church doctrine relevant to the changing norms.
The slow pace by which Pope Francis' reforms are coming into fruition speaks much of the resistance put up some members of the Curia.
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"This simplistic idea of a good pope and a wicked Curia is dangerous for the pontiff because it can leave him isolated," Vatican Insider's Gianni Valente said.
But the Curia might just be misunderstood as an enemy of the 80-year-old pontiff. One Argentine bishop estimates that only 20 percent of the governing body actively supports the pope's reform initiative and those staunchly opposed are much lesser. Even then, the majority is passive to the agenda.
One reason the reforms are not taking off, as pointed out by AFP, is the appointment of the wrong people. It cited Francesca Chaouqui, who was appointed to the financial reform panel, a post that proved too sensitive for a PR consultant like her who thrives on gossip and media publicity. Chaouqui couldn't help but disclose confidential information which became known as Vatileaks II.
Another problem cited is the lack of political will. The creation of a powerful economic department that will deal with the culture of waste and fiscal mismanagement prevailing in the Vatican was lauded in 2014.But the powers of its members have been trimmed and the body that manages the Vatican's huge assets has resumed control of its own affairs.
Observers noted that while Pope Francis' nature as a collaborative and forgiving person is useful in ministering to the Catholic faithful, it also makes him ineffective in dealing with the Curial snake pit. Because of this, Valente believes the pope's performance will be judged ultimately on other less, institutional issues.
