politica
politica
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has horrified the conservative Catholic community and right-wing authorities alike, particularly Matteo Salvini’s Lega Nord party. While Francis’ has been praised by liberals for putting the papa back into the papacy through his pastoral compassion for migrants and the poor, Salvini has overtly attacked the pontiff’s liberal stance and attempted to rival him as a religious leader. As interior minister, he would try to position himself as the true defender of Catholic identity over the pope, using religious references in speeches, and once even describing himself as a father to “60 million Italians”. However, while reformist Catholics have initially delighted at the prospect of a Pope who might rid the Church of its old-fashioned judgement and exclusivity, his recent shortcomings have let them down. He retains a staunch view on celibacy, still views abortion as sin and in February, a document called Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazon) confirmed his decision against allowing women or married men to become priests, despite the desperate lack of clerics in the Amazon region.This has caused confusion and disappointment among progressive Catholics who are now seeing exceptions to his agenda of change and positive reform. Pope Francis’ ambiguity is placing him in between a rock and a hard place as he continues to infuriate traditional devotees and fails to prove his consistency to liberal supporters.
Lotte Bull
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