Fabrizio Mastrofini, who was responsible for communications at the Pontifical Academy for Life of the Vatican and is now a member of the Dicastery for Communications, has publicly celebrated the election of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury. In a message posted on X, Mastrofini described the appointment as a “great decision, very important. A positive and inclusive sign for Europe, for the whole world, and for religions”.
Background of Controversial Positions
This is not the first time that Mastrofini has been linked to statements that generate controversy around the Church’s moral doctrine. For example, in 2022, a theologian linked to this institution went so far as to affirm that one could dissent from the Church’s teaching on contraception in an interview directed by him.
The new congratulations to Sarah Mullally reinforce that perception that, among the members of the Vatican institution, gestures and messages occur that seem to move away from that foundational mission.
Critical Reactions
The spokesperson’s message has generated bewilderment on social media and among the faithful who expected greater prudence from an institutional position of this level. Although it may be considered a personal opinion, the relevance of his responsibility within the Academy turns his words into a public sign that is inevitably associated with the Vatican itself.