Benedict’s Burial Leaves Francis Alone, and Unbound

NYT WORLD: Benedict’s Burial Leaves Francis Alone, and Unbound
By Jason Horowitz
Section: World
Source: New York Times
Published Date: January 7, 2023 at 02:00AM

Liberal supporters of Francis, a pope never shy about exercising power, now anticipate a late-breaking season of change.

VATICAN CITY — Since the first day of his papacy nearly a decade ago, Pope Francis has had to navigate an unprecedented complication in the Roman Catholic Church: coexisting with his retired predecessor in the same Vatican gardens. Supporters of Francis studiously played down the two-pontiff anomaly, but it generated confusion, especially when conservative acolytes of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI sought to wrap their fervent opposition in their leader’s white robes.
Now, with the burial of Benedict on Thursday, Francis, never bashful about exercising his power, is for the first time unbound.
“Now, I’m sure he’ll take it over,” said Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Mumbai, as he walked around St. Peter’s Square before Benedict’s funeral Mass.
Some liberal supporters of Francis, who has often balked in the face of advancing major overhauls, are raising expectations for a late-breaking season of change.
Many bishops and cardinals in the Vatican are convinced “he’s thinking ahead,” said Gerard O’Connell, the Vatican correspondent for America magazine. “What changes now is that the opposition will not have the rallying figure, manipulating Benedict. Francis has a very clear agenda.”
Mr. O’Connell, the author of “The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History,” envisioned an immediate future of swifter personnel decisions and the placing of more lay Catholics in power. He said there was talk about a new document on morality, sexuality and contraception. He also predicted the revisiting of major issues.

Read More at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/world/europe/pope-francis-after-benedict.html

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