Can Pope Francis’ critics swing the next conclave?

This week on “Inside the Vatican,” Gerry and I discuss new comments by the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Arturo Sosa, about Pope Francis’ critics. “The attacks against Pope Francis in the church today,” Father Sosa said, are “a fight between those who want the church dreamed of by the Second Vatican Council and those who do not want this.”

Next, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis-St. Paul has become the first bishop to be asked by the Vatican to investigate a fellow bishop according to new Vatican laws on sexual abuse investigations. Gerry and I explain why although at least one investigation has been ordered, the laws have a long way to go before they are fully implemented.

Finally, we talk about Pope Francis’ recent dialogues with Eastern Catholic bishops, and what he means when he says that unity does not mean uniformity when it comes to the Eastern churches. We also explain, briefly, the differences between Eastern Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox Church, and unpack the significance of Pope Francis’ gift of relics of St. Peter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

Links from the show:

• Father Sosa: Attacks against Pope Francis are aimed at influencing the next conclave
• Analysis: Why do some Catholics oppose Pope Francis?
• Minnesota archbishop opens sexual misconduct investigation into fellow bishop
• Pope urges Eastern Catholic bishops to promote ecumenism
• Pope Francis gives Orthodox patriarch relics of St. Peter

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