The war against Pope Francis

Despite being a shadow of its former self, the Catholic Church remains the single largest and most powerful religious organization on Earth. With over a billion members, it has the power to shape the politics and the morals values of entire continents. But it is a power in decline – modern values have changed, and the Church has failed to keep up. People still call themselves Catholic, but they are becoming more and more distanced from the rigid rules set by the Vatican.

For this reason, the appointment of Pope Francis in 2013 was seen as a breakthrough by many. Here was a reformer, a man who shunned wealth and vice, and instead chose to begin changing the Church to fit the views (and practices) of its followers. But changing an organization which is more than a millennia and a half old is no easy task.

Now, in 2017, Pope Francis is facing harsh resistance from within the Vatican. His reforms have made many enemies within the clergy, some who would go so far as to accuse him of Heresy – something which, which if stated in public, would shake the Catholic Church to its core.

Andrew Brown's lengthy article for the Guardian breaks down in expert detail both the internal politics of the Vatican, as well as the philosophical and theological arguments against Pope Francis. Fundamentally, this boils down to whether the Church should exist as a 'moral pillar' for its followers to aspire towards, or if it should adjust its doctrines to align with the views of the vast majority of its followers, in order to prevent it from losing relevance.

Clearly, Catholicism (insofar as its organization) is in crisis. If Pope Francis avoids being openly accused of Heresy by rebel Cardinals, he will likely continue to reform the Church. However, should his enemies, blinded by ideology or simply hungry for power, attempt to depose him, it could cause a schism, which may be the final death-throw of this lumbering political beast.