Ever since his election on March 13, 2013, Pope Francis has electrified the world and is a media sensation But among Catholics, who it is said tend to love their Popes to a fault, the reception of him is divided cf. [Watch out Pope Francis: the Catholic civil war has begun ]. This is by no means limited to Catholics among Christians (e.g. Lee Duigon , Russell D. Moore , and Baptist Press ). For Catholics who have expressed concern about Pope Francis and are wary of his pontificate, what are the key issues?

While reading the Prophecy of the Popes, I noticed that the entry for the 111 Pope in the series reads: Glory of the olive (Gloria oliviae). Wikipedia's article on this subject states: > Proponents of the prophecies generally try to draw a connection between Benedict and the Olivetan order to explain this motto: Benedict's choice of papal name is after Saint Benedict of Nursia, founder of the Benedictine Order, of which the Olivetans are one branch. Other explanations make reference to him as being a pope dedicated to peace and reconciliations of which the olive branch is the symbol. The olive is considered the symbol of peace. >The use of a dove and olive branch as a symbol of peace originated with the early Christians, who portrayed the act of baptism accompanied by a dove holding an olive branch in its beak and also used the image on their sepulchres. The dove appears in many funerary inscriptions in the Roman catacombs, sometimes accompanied by the words in pace (Latin for "in peace"). - Peace symbols (Wikipedia) When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope, he took the papal name of Francis in honor of **St Francis of Assisi**. Furthermore St Francis of Assisi is also one of the patron saints of peace. My question is quite simple: **Are there any known Catholic authors who have tried to interpret the papal reigns of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis as being a single reign in order to make both of them fit into St Malachy's *Gloria oliviae* of his Prophecy of the Popes?** To be crystal clear, Pope Francis holds the keys of St. Peter and not Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. > “That is what I have said, indeed, that – if one wishes to specify it – it is very clear, the **Plena Potestas, the Plenitudo Potestatis** [full power, incarnate authority] is in the hands of Pope Francis. He is the man who has right now the succession of Peter. And then there are no difficulties left, as I also have said it. These two are also not in a competitive relationship. That is where one has to make use of common sense, as well as the Faith and a little bit of theology. Then one does not have at all difficulties to understand properly [sic] what I have said.” - [Interview: Archbishop Gänswein on Benedict, The Two Popes, and Prophecy](https://onepeterfive.com/interview-archbishop-ganswein-on-benedict-the-two-popes-and-prophecy/)

> "All religions are paths to God. I will use an analogy, they are like different languages that express the divine.” - Pope Francis, [Interreligious Meeting with Young People - Address of His Holiness](https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/september/documents/20240913-singapore-giovani.html) , *“Catholic Junior College” (Singapore) Friday, 13 September 2024* In this address he also said, "There is only one God, and religions are like languages, paths to reach God. Some Sikh, some Muslim, some Hindu, some Christian. Understood?" I am struggling to comprehend this sentiment in a positive Biblical light because it seems as though the Pope is clearly saying that worship of false gods is a pathway to the one true God. Far from finding a biblical basis for this sentiment, I find nothing but the exact opposite. Can we add Baal worship or any of the various pagan Corinthian gods and make the Pope's list any worse? How does Roman Catholicism rescue the Pope from directly contradicting Jesus; "I am the way, the truth, and the life; No one comes to the Father but by me."?

To create more humans a member of the female sex has to copulate with a member of the male sex. The man's sperm fertilities the egg and an embryo develops in the females womb and this is natural. I do not know how each denomination interprets Mary's virgin birth within the Christian faith. If Mary gave birth to Jesus as a virgin how can this *not* be considered supernatural as well as in the realm of magic? But the Catholic Pope Francis said that the Christian God is not a magician. There are also examples of testimony that Jesus performed miracles outside of the natural order. I know I have asked [a similar question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/101757/10672) about God's omnipotence but these testimonies come into conflict with the Catholic Church's position upon the power of God. My intention is not to criticize the Christian faith at all. On the other hand, these questions come out of respect for the existence of God. So are there denominations of the Christian Faith that still believe that God has unquestionable power?

The monthly prayer intentions of Pope Francis are found, for example, [*here*](https://www.popesprayer.va/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ENG-INTENZIONI-DI-PREGHIERA-DEL-SANTO-PADRE-2024-DEF-1.pdf) . QUESTION: Have the monthly prayer intentions of previous Popes been published somewhere, and if so, where may I find them? I am most interested in those of Ven. Pope Pius XII and his predecessors.

Consider the published monthly prayer intentions by Pope Francis for 2024: [*The Monthly Prayer Intentions of Pope Francis for 2024*](https://www.popesprayer.va/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ENG-INTENZIONI-DI-PREGHIERA-DEL-SANTO-PADRE-2024-DEF-1.pdf) When Catholics say, for example, a family Rosary or perform some other indulgenced work, prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father are prescribed. QUESTION: When Catholics say prayers for the intentions of the Pope, what exactly are they praying for? Is it for the **specific** intention promulgated by the Pope for that particular month? If not, consider what Fr. F. W. Faber says on p. 285 of [*The Precious Blood*](https://ia800906.us.archive.org/22/items/preciousbloodorp00fabe/preciousbloodorp00fabe.pdf) : > If we pray for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff, it is the sweet Spirit-guided will of the Church, which we are assisting to its accomplishment.

In Fratelli Tutti Pope Francis wrote, quoting his 2016 World Day of Peace Address that: > Communicators also have a responsibility for education and formation, especially nowadays, when the means of information and communication are so widespread. Their duty is first and foremost to serve the truth, and not particular interests. > > [Fratelli Tutti 114](http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html) By "Communicators" is he talking about journalists? The media in general or is it broader to mean communication platforms such as Facebook and Twitter? I was reading through Fratelli Tutti and that word "Communicators" struck me as odd, the link back to the Holy Father's other declaration showed me he was talking about the media, but given the context of Fratelli Tutti I'm thinking he's talking about something different. So in general, when Pope Francis uses the vague term "Communicators" which may not be so vague in Italian, who is he talking about?

There is currently controversy between some Catholics regarding the current pope and the validity of him holding the office. On a video addressing this controversy (which I can no longer find), a comment mentioned that some people believed the current pope to be invalid due to Canon 188 in Title IX of the code of the canon law: Can. 188 A resignation made out of grave fear that is inflicted unjustly or out of malice, substantial error, or simony is invalid by the law itself. My question is, what exactly is this Canon saying, especially with regards to the "substantial error", and how are people interpreting this to apply to the current pope?

Bishop Strickland was recently deposed by Pope Francis, ostensibly because he tweeted something about the Pope "undermining the deposit of faith". Is that a technical term or just a euphemism for heresy? Is it licit, under the auspices of Vatican I, to suspect that the Pope could be doing such a thing?

Here's something the Pope said recently: > Tutti siamo fragili e bisognosi, ma lo sguardo di compassione del Vangelo ci porta a vedere le necessità di chi ha più bisogno. E a servire i poveri, i prediletti di Dio che si è fatto povero per noi : gli esclusi, gli emarginati, gli scartati, i piccoli, gli indifesi. Sono loro il tesoro della Chiesa, sono i preferiti di Dio! Translating (Google translate) > We are all fragile and needy, but the compassionate gaze of the Gospel leads us to see the needs of those who are most in need. And to serve the poor, the beloved of God who made himself poor for us: the excluded, the marginalized, the rejected, the little ones, the defenceless. They are the treasure of the Church, they are God's favorites! Well, does God really have favorites? Does He love some people more than others? Is there any biblical evidence for this?

I would like to know the source (a book, I presume) that speaks about Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich's "Prophecy of the two popes.'' Every online site that I recall, which speaks about it, has plenty to say but gives no actual source. See, for example, the articles "[Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich Prophecy on The Two Popes](https://v-catholic.com/signs-of-our-times/blessed-anne-catherine-emmerich-prophecy-on-the-two-popes/) " or "[Anne Catherine Emmerich and the Two Popes](https://onepeterfive.com/anne-catherine-emmerich-and-the-two-popes/) ". I thought, perhaps, that I might find it in "[The Life And Revelations Of Anne Catherine Emmerich](https://ia800608.us.archive.org/16/items/TheLifeAndRevelationsOfAnneCatherineEmmerichComplete/TheLifeAndRevelationsOfAnneCatherineEmmerich.pdf) ". But a search of "two popes" or "heretics of every kind" brings up nothing. Does anyone know what the source of the "Two Popes" prophecy is, and if so, where I might find it?

Prior to this [motu proprio](http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio-20210110_spiritus-domini.html) the only purpose of the order of acolyte or lector in the Catholic Church that I knew of was to prepare permanent deacons for ordination. So, if the purpose is expanded to all lay people, what function will acolytes perform in the future? Will we be expecting itinerant acolytes going from parish to parish helping at masses? Will we be wowed by one superior lector?

As G.K. Chesterton put it, it's useless to say you can't put back the clock, that's literally the function of the clock, to be able to put it back.. that is. So who is Pope Francis to say that liturgical reform (which millions of well meaning, highly educated Catholics are rightly skeptical of) are unable to reverse liturgical reforms? > https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36674/for-pope-francis-the-liturgical-reform-is-irreversible When all the present Novus Ordo backers die off, leaving a vague Protestant Catholic Church and the recognizable Catholic Church favoring Liturgical Tradition over Liturgical Innovation, won't the _Vox Populii_ take over and the liturgy will automatically "unreform" itself?

*In light of Traditionis Custodes, is the TLM celebrated by a well known schismatic Priest an invalid Mass?* The recent motu proprio of Pope Francis spoke more on ***"disunity"*** rather than the liturgy of celebrating the Holy Mass. This can be seen from ***Pastor Aeturnus*** , citing unity is vital in celebrating Holy Mass. > 11. The unity of the Church, which the ministry of Peter's Successor serves in a unique way, reaches its highest expression in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, which is the centre and root of ecclesial communion; this communion is also necessarily based on the unity of the Episcopate. Therefore, ***"every celebration of the Eucharist is performed in union not only with the proper Bishop, but also with the Pope, with the episcopal order, with all the clergy, and with the entire people. Every valid celebration of the Eucharist expresses this universal communion with Peter and with the whole Church, or objectively calls for it"***,43 as in the case of the Churches which are not in full communion with the Apostolic See. - The Primacy of the Successor of Peter in the Mystery of the Church Perhaps, the subject of validity is more focus on the consecration of the "bread and wine". Since Art.5 in Traditionis Costudes stated the priestly faculties status quo is not supplied unless a Bishop grant the priest permission to celebrate the TLM. This specific question or scenario must be answer. *If Art.#5 of Traditionis Custodes stated, the priest have no supplied faculties to celebrate the TLM, will the Holy Spirit descend on a restricted celebration and will the Holy Spirit sanctifies the bread & wine tainted with disobedience? If the Holy Spirit do not descend, does it mean the consecration was not confected, therefore invalid?* >Art. 5. Priests who already celebrate according to the Missale Romanum of 1962 should request from the diocesan Bishop the authorization to continue to enjoy this faculty. No Authorization means No Faculties. No Faculties to celebrate the TLM, will it also means no faculties to consecrate the bread and wine? Just like when Pope Francis had not yet supplied the faculties to SSPX priest administer Sacrament of Confession to absolve sins? https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/20210716-motu-proprio-traditionis-custodes.html Other Source(s): [Pope Francis’ Traditionis Custodes is for the Sake of Unity](https://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2021/07/pope-francis-traditionis-custodis-is-for-the-sake-of-unity.html)

Pope Francis, was quoted about accepting the resignation of a French Archbishop following on his recent trip to Greece: > “small caresses and massages that he gave to the secretary.” ... Francis added that this “is a sin, but it is not one of the most serious sins, because the sins of the flesh are not the most serious.” > > https://www.ncregister.com/cna/pope-francis-says-he-accepted-paris-archbishop-s-resignation-on-the-altar-of-hypocrisy So, if you summed up his other statements and works where does it seem that the Holy Father ranks sins of the flesh and how does that compare to the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church?

Did [Pope Francis throw cold water](https://www.ncregister.com/cna/pope-francis-jesus-entrusted-mary-to-us-as-a-mother-not-as-co-redeemer) on any hope for a [5th Marian dogma](https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/fifth-marian-dogma-5671) or is there a fundamental difference between "co-redeemer" and "co-redemptrix" that leaves the door slightly ajar?

I was reading [Fr. Raymond de Souza's article on the Pickle that Cardinal Gregory is in](https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/pope-francis-motu-proprio-places-new-burden-on-bishops-particularly-on-cardinal-gregory) and it reminded me of something I thought of when reading [Traditionis Custodes](https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/20210716-motu-proprio-traditionis-custodes.html) , it would seem as if the final point: > Previous norms, instructions, permissions, and customs that do not conform to the provisions of the present Motu Proprio are abrogated. Suggests that all the accretions in the _Novus Ordo_ mass, (i.e. the Kumbayah stuff that TLM goers often object to) is abrogated as well. In fact, it seems if: > The liturgical books promulgated by Saint Paul VI and Saint John Paul II, in conformity with the decrees of Vatican Council II, are the unique expression of the lex orandi of the Roman Rite. is what Pope Francis wants us to go with, then all congregations who fail to observe the rite properly are just as out of sync with the Motu Proprio as any TLM community. Or is this not how _Motu Proprios_ work?

In the *Declaratio*, Pope Emeritus Benedictus XVI renounced the exercise of the *munus*, but not the *munus* itself. So what is the *munus* and what are the implications of the renunciation of the exercise alone for the current Pope Francis?

According to Pope Francis : > Mary is not only the bridge joining us to God; she is more. She is the road that God travelled to reach us, and the road that we must travel in order to reach him. How do catholics explain this in light of John 14:6 (NASB) > Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me?

This question contains three parts: 1. How many theologians were censured under Pope John Paul II? (1978-2005) 2. How many theologians were censured under Pope Benedict XVI? (2005-2013) 3. How many theologians were censured under Pope Francis? (2013-Present) Answerers may interpret "censured" as they see fit (e.g. given warnings, forced to retract positions, had teaching faculties revoked, etc.). The more information, the better.