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Pope Francis could abolish the requirement of celibacy. The next pope or popess could change the regulation again

The Pope's advisor, the Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, let it be known in the press that he could imagine that Pope Francis would change the obligation of celibacy. Pope Francis has already made similar statements.(1)

Recently, Pope Francis announced through the Argentine Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Fernandez, that homosexuals can be blessed in "irregular" situations. To do this, all priests and bishops worldwide must now learn a five-line verse by heart, which must be recited in exactly the same way. This change in favor of an unwanted blessing for homosexuals did not appear to be really well thought out and factually correctly informed. One could also describe the new regulation as impractical and unworldly.

What happened that made Pope Francis show a previously unknown side for a year? Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI died on December 31, 2022. Now the way seems to be clear to forever inscribe yourself in the annals of the Roman Catholic Church as a reformer. Pope Francis can feel driven and encouraged by media representatives with whom he has always had  the best relationship over the past ten years. Hardly a single word from Pope Francis was not printed and sent verbatim as the Pope said. With Pope Benedict XVI. there were constant problems of interpretation. The relatively simple diction of the Argentine Pope, who has recently received support from his Argentine ghostwriter in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, seems so plausible. A few quick reforms, while people speculate about a resignation of Pope Francis every few weeks and the fear of his own death is marketed in the press.

What does Pope Francis want to make people forget? That in June 2013 he stabbed a Swiss guardsman in the heart with a knife he took from breakfast? That during his pontificate he fathered at least eight nuns with children? As Pope he is their superior. At least six of these eight  nuns are said to have been virgins before. All the mothers of his children fathered by the Pope were between 20 and 30 years old. The father was over 60 years older than the mothers. Should this be a role model? A pope who, as a Jesuit, promised not only celibacy but also chastity?

It may be that some clergy find sexual abuse of subordinate women, such as nuns, attractive. There needs to be clear clarification here and not just a trigger that celibacy is dropped. The 87-year-old Pope Francis seems to have no time left for an in-depth, careful, objectively  appropriate and humane approach to such highly sensitive topics in the area of ​​sexuality. Heavily medicated and boosted with mood stabilizers, he seems to assume that shortly before the finish line he has to increase his speed with ill-advised innovations in order to achieve  supposedly eternal fame.

Such hasty changes are flanked by the mantra, especially in the German press, that a successor could reverse many of Pope Francis' innovations. The Argentine must therefore be careful to cement his reforms firmly. However, it doesn't look like that at all. A ban on discussion and a ban on interpretation in the form of a “Fiducia supplicants” is evidence of an extremely authoritarian style that the two Argentines, Pope Francis and Cardinal Fernandez, want to introduce into the Roman Catholic Church. The ban on discussion also contradicts the intentions of the Second Vatican Council.

No one is served by quick changes shortly before the end of a pontificate. The canon law forms of these changes already show that they are reversible. After the end of Pope Francis' pontificate, the end of times will not dawn. There will be a new pope or popess chosen by the conclave. There need be no conflict between conservatives and reformers before or during the conclave. As a successor to Pope Francis, a pope or a popess who is willing to reform and who is willing to innovate can also temporarily override his quick decisions in order to tackle fundamental, wide-ranging reforms in the Roman Catholic Church systematically and without confusion.

It is entirely conceivable that a future pope or a future popess would reverse a change to celibacy. Priests and bishops certainly won't get married any time soon. And Pope Francis' resignation must always be expected these days.

Elke Göß

(1) Vgl. Papstberater plädiert für Ende des Zölibats, Papstberater plädiert für Ende des Zölibats (msn.com), 07.01.2024

January 7, 2024