In the sacred palaces, the idea is beginning to spread that we are closing the pontificate of Pope Francis. Pope Leo seems to have set the end of the Jubilee year as the limit for the closure; with the closing of the holy door, the time of Francis will end. Back in the Vatican after his first apostolic trip and a day of rest in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV kept his schedule on the morning of this Thursday. The topic of the Heralds is burning hot, Brambilla has been exposed, and it seems that Pope Leo, who says and repeats that ‘he found it’, is not liking at all how this issue and so many others are being managed. We had an audience with the commissioner of the Heralds, Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno, and Mons. Antônio Luiz Catelan, the auxiliary bishop of Rio. We couldn't find the photos of the meeting, but it took place, and we greatly fear that Brambilla was one of the topics of conversation. The Prefecture of the Papal Household announces that the Advent meditations will be led by the Preacher of the Papal Household, Pasolini, on the theme «Waiting and Hastening the Coming of the Day of God (2 Peter 3:12): The Jubilee Hope between the Hope of the Lord and the Universality of Salvation». The meditations will take place in the Paul VI Hall on Fridays, December 5, 12, and 19, in the presence of Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo XIV will meet with the youth of the Diocese of Rome on January 10. This was announced by the Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, Cardinal Reina.
The publication yesterday of documents dated months ago was surprising, and their mere literal reading sounds very harsh. The two communications published by the Press Office—the note on the female diaconate and the chirograph with which Leo XIV abolished the Fundraising Commission established just ten months ago by Pope Francis—offer an important perspective on the new pontificate. These are not marginal or technical signals, but clues that reveal how the new Pope, moving within a presumed framework of continuity, is gradually shaping the direction with a different style and priorities.
We have the chirograph Vinculum unitatis et caritatis with which Pope Leo suppresses without a trace the Holy See's coordination commission for fundraising created this same year by Pope Francis. The news has shocked the Vatican: Pope Leo XIV has said enough to the Commissio De Donationibus pro Sancta Sede, the body established by Pope Francis on February 11, 2025. Not only has the Commission been closed, but its statute has also been revoked, annulling all laws and regulations adopted to date and dismissing all its members. The official text clarifies that the decision was taken after the Council for the Economy «devoted special attention to the study of the matter in question, re-examined it, and consulted experts in the field». The suppression of the Commission once again highlights the irreplaceable role of the Peter's Pence. While Peter's Pence collected donations from the faithful, the now-abolished Commission was created with Pope Francis's intention to centralize everything, channeling funds and donations to the IOR.
Regarding the female diaconate, Leo XIV opted for a line of prudence, a ‘for now no’, which differs from the expectations generated during the Francis era, when the topic was repeatedly raised as an open issue. Leo XIV does not close, but neither does he force; he does not block, he redirects. The summary of the Study Commission on the Female Diaconate, presented to the Holy Father on September 18, was made public yesterday, December 4, 2025, and is signed by Petrocchi. The Commission, composed of ten members—five men and five women—was established by Pope Francis in 2020 to continue the work of a previous Commission established by the Pontiff himself in 2016, chaired by Ladaria Ferrer with a result that remains largely unknown.
Petrocchi pointed out the presence of two theological currents within the Commission he chaired: the first, accepting the teaching of Lumen Gentium, according to which diaconal ordination is not ad sacerdotium but ad ministerium, believes that the diaconal ordination of women would not conflict with the prohibition of priestly ordination; the second, without denying this distinction, insists on recalling the substantial unity of the priesthood in its three degrees, and its spousal meaning, from which derives the necessary masculinity of candidates. This division suggests «a prudential approach», accompanied by «a rigorous and broad critical examination of the diaconate itself», of greater participation of women in lay ministries, and of the valorization of «baptismal diakonia» as the foundation of every ecclesial ministry. Presents the results of the three working sessions that it unanimously approved that, «in the current state of historical research and our knowledge of biblical and patristic testimonies», the female diaconate, which developed differently in the various regions of early Christianity, «was not understood as the simple female equivalent of the male diaconate and does not appear to have had a sacramental character». Also unanimously, the Commission members recognized that there are several issues regarding «the compatibility of female diaconal ordination with Catholic doctrine on ordained ministry». Four members categorically opposed the introduction of an ordained female diaconate, while five opposed this stance (one blank vote). Four members expressed a provisionally unfavorable stance but open to future modifications. While only two were absolutely in favor of an ordained female diaconate, to which six members opposed (two blank votes). The proposal to establish new ministries received unanimous consensus. The feeling is that, at the level of study and debate, a substantially shared conclusion will never be reached. The only one who can definitively resolve the issue is, obviously, the Pope, who will decide whether to pronounce on it and how, since he is not bound by the Commission's opinion.
A property exchange between the Italian State and the Lazio Region gives the green light to the reorganization of Rome's hospitals. At the center are the Umberto I, the old Forlanini, and the Bambino Gesù. «The part of the state real estate complex known as the Umberto I Polyclinic, located in Rome, is transferred to the Lazio Region, in its current state and legislation, with a perpetual restriction for its use as a public hospital». At the same time, «the property known as the old Carlo Forlanini Hospital, owned by the Lazio Region, located in Rome, is transferred to the State». The transfer of the old Forlanini to the State would be a prerequisite for the move to the Bambino Gesù building. Only when the Forlanini area becomes state property can the transfer to the Holy See be formalized. This transfer is already enshrined in the letter of intent signed on February 8, 2024.
And we continue with money. The nun Caram claims that Pope Francis left her a sum of money to buy ambulances for Ukraine. The Pope left her money as a legacy to buy relief supplies for her humanitarian mission in Ukraine. Caram also spoke about her relationship with the new Pope Leo XIV, describing him as «prudent» but «clear in his words ». It seems that with Leo XIV, the uncontrolled flows of money have stopped, and she claims that he sends her rosaries for the wounded and those on the front lines.
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, former personal secretary of Benedict XVI, hopes that the beatification process for the late pope will be opened. He also calls for resuming the German pontiff's stance on the Tridentine Mass. «Personally, I sincerely hope that this process [of beatification] will be initiated». He defined Joseph Ratzinger as «a theologian of joy». Regarding the future of the «Ancient Mass» (extraordinary rite), Georg Gänswein urged overcoming the tensions and divisions that arose in the Church after the apostolic letter Traditionis custodes of Pope Francis, resuming the stance of Benedict XVI. With his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum of 2007, Benedict XVI had granted great freedom to priests, who could celebrate Mass in the extraordinary rite without requesting the bishop's authorization. The groups of faithful could also request permission from their parish priest.
Strange things always happen in the Vatican, and these days a little fox was spotted wandering among the columns of St. Peter's Square. The animal, apparently unperturbed by the presence of tourists and pilgrims, caught the attention of passersby, who watched it in amazement and recorded the scene with their mobile phones. Images of the cub have spread rapidly on social media. No expert is needed to understand that the young fox may have strayed from its natural habitat, driven by food scarcity, in search of something to eat. The proximity of restaurants and tourists may have made the city center an «easy» place to seek these resources. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus calls Herod «that fox», using the animal as a negative metaphor. The Vatican fox has already become a symbol of wonder, fragility, and respect.
And we end with a long and interesting article by Eleganti that analyzes interreligious encounters. On January 25, 1986, Pope John Paul II announced the first World Day of Prayer for Peace, multireligious, which was held on October 27 of that same year. 150 representatives of various religious groups attended, including Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, representatives of Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism, Inamullah Khan from the World Muslim Congress, and the Grand Rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff. Regarding the interreligious meetings in Assisi, from the beginning, curia officials and bishops expressed concern. They wondered if this meeting of non-Catholic or non-Christian religious leaders did not dangerously approach the heresy of syncretism. Did these meetings ipso facto equate all religious traditions? «How could the Pope pray with men and women who worshiped a different God or many gods?».
The intention was that each representative of their religion pray in their own way and in their own place, and only then gather, because «John Paul II was clear that this could not mean a universal common prayer, because that would have been true syncretism and, therefore, impossible, not only for him but also for the others». Benedict XVI expressed his opinion in a letter dated March 4, 2011, to the Lutheran pastor Peter Beyerhaus: “In any case, I will do everything possible to make a syncretic or relativist interpretation of the event impossible and to make it clear that I continue to believe and profess what I recalled to the Church in my letter ‘Dominus Jesus’”. Burke wrote in 2011: There are several dangers that such an encounter could entail in terms of the media communication of the event, of which, evidently, the pontiff is very aware. The media will say, even with just the images, that all religions have united to ask God for peace. An ill-informed Christian might draw from this the gravely erroneous conclusion that one religion is as good as any other and that Jesus Christ is one of many mediators of salvation.
Religious individualism and multicultural pluralism, which are ipso facto relativist, have created a social environment characterized by great aversion and animosity toward truth claims. The belief that all religions are simply different paths to the same goal is widespread. There should no longer be any religion that claims to possess the truth (supposedly «rented»). Eleganti states that: «Unfortunately, Pope Francis's statements at the Catholic Junior College in Singapore on September 13, 2024, go in this direction and, with due respect to the Pope, are objectively scandalous». One of the things that impressed me most about you young people here is your capacity for interreligious dialogue. And that is very important, because when you start arguing: «My religion is more important than yours…», «Mine is true, yours isn't…», where does that lead? Where…? [Someone responds: «To destruction»]. That's right. All religions are a path to God. They are—like I'll make a comparison—like different languages, different dialects to get there. But God is God for all. And because God is God for all, we are all children of God. «But my God is more important than yours!». Is that true? There is only one God, and we, our religions, are languages, paths to God. Some are Sikhs, others Muslims, others Hindus, others Christians, but they are different paths. Understood? .
When the Fathers spoke of the seeds of truth that also exist among the pagans, they were not referring primarily to their religions, but above all to their highly developed philosophy (Greek). Think of ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, or Asian wisdom teachers like Confucius. The Fathers considered pagan religions to be inspired by demons. Their view on this is based on Sacred Scripture: 1 Cor 10:20: “What the pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God”. 1 Cor 10:20. “All the gods of the pagans are demons”. Ps 95(96):5. From this, many Fathers deduced that behind idol worship there was not only human error, but a spiritual power that obscured the true God. Thomas Aquinas (13th century) teaches that there are traces of truth in pagan religions (e.g., natural knowledge of God), but that these have been corrupted or perverted by demonic influences and human errors. Summa Theologiae, II-II, q.94, a.4: “The demons made people worship creatures as if they were divine”.
The passage from the Abu Dhabi Declaration that refers to the plurality of religions granted by God has elicited considerable criticism. It states: «Pluralism and the diversity of religion, color, gender, ethnicity, and language are a wise divine will with which God created human beings». If this phrase is applied to Islam, it immediately becomes clear how erroneous it is. For Islam is, as it itself admits, an anti-Christian religion. Christianity and Islam cannot coexist, not only in terms of the theory of truth, but also in practice. The Abu Dhabi Declaration promotes a kind of secular concept of the «Kingdom of God» that is not based on Christian faith (rebirth of the Spirit and water), but on a brotherhood alien to Islam, yet nourished by Christian roots. The only one who is God and who can truly renew the human heart from within is Jesus Christ and his Gospel. The Abu Dhabi Declaration states that all people are children of God by belonging to humanity, while the Gospel of John links divine sonship to faith in Christ and baptism (rebirth of the Spirit and water; not by human will). This also applies to the concept of universal fraternity (Fratelli tutti, October 3, 2020).
«Have mercy on us, Son of David!»
Good reading.
Pope Francis left a sum in inheritance to his friend Sister Lucía Caram to buy ambulances for Ukraine. “It moved me”
Leo XIV uncovers Campisi's games: the donations commission torn up
Ior, sustainability report: “No investments in favor of abortion, arms, porn, or nuclear”
From Ior first sustainability report, adheres to Basel III
Ministry or power? Why the diaconate cannot become a gender claim
A fox at the Vatican: it goes viral on social media, the unexpected guest that “steals” the scene from the Cupolone (PHOTOS)
Msgr. Gänswein hopes for Ratzinger's beatification
Vatican refuses to form ‘definitive judgment’ on women deacons
Emanuela Orlandi, the ex-Sisde agent Martufi has everything secret: «No face on video». Hearing deemed useless
The Ior: «Investments in porn must be limited». Then the clarification: it means they will be excluded
Pope Leo, an earthquake in the Vatican: goodbye to Bergoglio's legacy
Bishop Eleganti: True ‘universal brotherhood’ is rooted in Jesus, not religious pluralism
Rome's hospitals, mega property exchange: the government accelerates on Bambino Gesù at Forlanini
It is the diaconate itself that splits the Commission on deaconesses
Leo XIV in the footsteps of Francis, but with his own step: first choices that reveal his line (Sante Cavalleri and Andrea Sillioni)
Leo XIV: another mess from Pope Francis remedied.
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