A possibly irate Pope Francis is reported to replace the Vatican papal nuncio to the United States. This is according to a recent report published on the Advocate website and other news-gathering websites.
Controversial Archbishop
According to the news, the Vatican will replace the Italian papal nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, with French-born Archbishop Christophe Pierre. The latter is currently serving as the nuncio to Mexico.
Many are speculating that the pope is not pleased by Archbishop Viganò’s controversial stance and very vocal conservative views on many socio-political issues such as LGBT rights. The pope was also somewhat manipulated by the archbishop in meeting Kim Davis last year during the U.S. papal visit.
Viganò has always been more outspoken about his antagonism to same-sex marriage compared to other top-ranking clergymen of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis, on the other hand, is seen to be more liberal and non-judgmental toward LGBTQ rights.
Although the Catholic Church is doctrinally opposed to same-sex marriage, Pope Francis has previously emphasized that the clergy do not have to insistently discuss the issue in public.
Meanwhile, the America Magazine website earlier published an article that pointed out the fact that the Holy See does not announce nuncio replacement without president’s agreement. However, the article claims that the pope is likely to make the announcement before Easter.
Pope Blindsided
Vatican observers speculate that the replacement of the current papal nuncio to the U.S. was precipitated by Viganò’s blindsiding the pontiff in the arranged private meeting with Davis. When the news about this meeting was leaked a few days after the pontiff returned to Rome, it caused a public uproar.
It was made to appear that the pontiff explicitly gave his support to the discriminatory and illegal action of Davis of shutting down the operations of her office just to avoid serving same-sex couples.
According to a very recent article in ReligionNews, Pope Francis was furious for being blindsided by Archbishop Viganò. The pontiff did not even know who Davis was nor understand the implications of the secretive meeting that the nuncio had arranged.
Nonetheless, the ReligionNews article dismissed the rumors that Viganò is now officially removed from his post. He has been the nuncio to the U.S. since 2011.
Pope Francis might be furious about Viganò’s trickery but official statements from the Vatican about the replacement are yet to be announced.
The reformist and progressive public image of Pope Francis is in contrast with the notoriety of Archbishop Viganò. The pope was unintentionally made to appear foolish by the latter’s manipulative scheme.
Featured image via Advocate
