The
interview was conducted by Alessandro Rico and published in La Verità on September 6, 2021.
Aldo Maria Valli, historian and highly-esteemed Vatican expert for the RAI (Italian Radio and TV), runs the blog Duc in Altum from which he has been courageously criticizing the ambiguity and the confusion of Pope Francis’ papacy for years now. We ask his informed opinion on the recent rumours about Pope Francis’s’ possible imminent abdication. Pope Francis has denied this (“I have no intention of resigning”), but declared that as soon as the health of a Pope deteriorates, there is feeling “that a conclave is in the air”.
*****
What is the atmosphere really like in the Vatican at
the moment?
“The
sensation of instability and insecurity is palpable; along with a climate of tension and
suspicion, for fear of being the object of purges and retaliations.”
Retaliations? Really?
“In
the recent case of the Motu Proprio abolishing in effect, Summorum Pontificum,
the bishops were told clearly that if they didn’t fall into line with it, they
would be removed unceremoniously.”
We’ll come to that in a minute. Meantime, what is really going on with the
Pope’s health?
“In
the Sacred Palaces there is talk of two tumours that Bergolio had been
suffering from, and of the difficulties the doctors and health-care personnel
had in the hospital, in caring for their august patient, who proved to be
nervous and irritable during treatment.”
O my! We must pray for him.
“Certainly there are
those who want us to think that Francis is still in good-health and is strong
physically, to avoid giving the impression of a loss of power. But in
reality, Bergoglio had an emergency
operation for a serious condition , and given his age, his situation is not
easy.”
Francis has been particularly prolific in the
creation of new cardinals . Does this mean that the next conclave will be
already a done deal? That is to say, will a Pope in the image and likeness of
Bergoglio emerge?
“This
is what Francis has in mind, for sure:
for years he has been creating cardinals totally in line with his
ideological approach. I believe, nevertheless, that there are quite a number in
the Sacred College who have understood where Bergoglio wants to lead the Church
and I believe they are not willing to be accomplices in Her demolition.”
So?
“We
might well have some surprises. You know the old saying that ‘the one who goes into
conclave as ‘Pope’ comes out of it a cardinal.’
It should be taken seriously…
What’s your opinion about the Becciu affair? Some
newspapers are attempting to downgrade the investigation.
“From
what I know, the London affair sees Angelo Becciu in the role of “numskull” from the instant the operation was decided
upon by Bergoglio himself, based on what was revealed by Monsignor Carlo Viganò
in his last intervention.”
What will happen in the end?
“The
investigation will not lead to the conviction of the guilty parties, as has
happened already in other cases, since the defendants, in reality, are not the
ones responsible for the offences which they are accused of. Probably an authoritative
intervention by Francis will be made, declaring Becciu’s guilt res judicata , as in the McCarrick case.”
Meanwhile, as you referred to before, the Pontiff has taken steps to pave the way for the suppression
of the Latin Mass. Why start this war?
“Because
it’s precisely by starting a war and provoking dissent and protests that
Bergoglio can demonstrate the Tridentine
Mass is ‘divisive’.”
Is that not the case?
“With
a wise and generous application of the previous Motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum, promulgated by Benedict XVI, the
communities attached to the Old Rite never came into conflict with the other faithful
and priests.”
Does Francis want to stoke a conflict that doesn’t
exist?
“
Stirring up the casus belli is
typical of Francis’s Peronistic mentality: first provoke the exasperated reaction
of those he wants to target, and then faced with their protests, show himself authoritarian
and despotic, accusing them of disobedience.”
Isn’t it paradoxical that the Apostolic Letter with which he
seeks practically to eliminate the Old
Rite , is called Traditionis custodies
?
“Francis,
while citing the Council, defines the bishops
“ custodians of Tradition” precisely when he is constraining them to abolish
its principal expression: that liturgy. Those who see a sort of mockery in this do have a point.
Exactly.
It
is heartbreaking that he who is called “Holy Father” is so cruel to his
children and so tolerant with those declared enemies of Christ, the Church and
the Pope.”
Translation:
Contributor Francesca Romana
Source: Aldo Maria Valli: «Voci in Curia: il Papa
non sta bene» - La Verità (laverita.info)
H/T Messa in Latino blog
