![\"pope](\"https:\/\/www.uccronline.it\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/papafrancesco_critiche-768x403-1.webp\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
We publish the reflection of the young blogger Alfredo Salata<\/strong>: his journey from hatred of Pope Bergoglio<\/strong> to a change of heart<\/strong> after his death.<\/i><\/p>\n <\/p>\n by *blogger and newly converted<\/i><\/p>\n On April 21, 2025<\/strong>, the news of Pope Francis<\/strong><\/mark>‘s death reached my parish community.<\/p>\n It was unexpected news for me, arriving at a particular moment in my story<\/strong> of faith and which certainly marked my path.<\/p>\n I remember that in those weeks I was already immersed in a serious reappraisal<\/strong> of his figure.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I confess that I never admired him<\/strong>.<\/p>\n More honestly, it would be to say that for a long time I even despised<\/strong> Pope Francis.<\/p>\n Before my conversion to Catholicism, I even considered him a kind of \u201cprogressive extremist\u201d<\/em>, an antipope<\/strong>, a convenient ecclesial crutch<\/strong> for that liberal cultural power which is the antithesis of everything Christian and which for two decades has dominated every sphere of secular culture.<\/p>\n For a long time I even entertained the idea that Pope Francis might not really be the Pope<\/strong>, but some sort of usurper of the Petrine throne.<\/p>\n Only when my reflection led me to truly recognize in the Catholic Church the true Church of Christ \u2014 in historical continuity with what the Lord had founded and entrusted to the apostles \u2014 did I understand that I had to give up<\/strong> these ideas and repent<\/strong> of having entertained them.<\/p>\n This, however, did not<\/strong> certainly cause an automatic and complete reassessment of Francis’s figure.<\/p>\n While recognizing him as the legitimate Pope and, consequently, worthy of the respect and obedience due to the Pontiff, I continued to consider Francis<\/strong> too progressive, too casual in doctrine, a creator of confusion rather than a guardian of tradition.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Only shortly before his passing had I begun to read his writings, starting with Amoris laetitia<\/strong><\/i>. This text too has been widely criticized, the subject of rather critical Dubia<\/i> and even accusations of heresy.<\/p>\n When I read it in full, however, it seemed to me instead rich with a profound pastoral realism<\/strong>, a realism that did not stand in contrast to the Church’s Tradition but, on the contrary, rested on a mature and deep moral theology.<\/p>\n Reading his direct words I began to discover \u2014 and understand \u2014 how Pope Francis<\/strong> was a much more complex<\/strong> figure than the media simplifications about him.<\/p>\n I realized that behind his apparent pastoral casualness there was real wisdom<\/strong> and, above all, a deep trust in the power of the Gospel and in its ability to defend itself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A few days before his death I came across his famous image of the Church as a \u00abfield hospital\u00bb<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Today I think that labelling a Pope who could propose such an image as modernist<\/strong> is honestly paradoxical<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Reflected in the image of the field hospital<\/strong> is the image of war, of the wounded: and it is war that moves against the Word the Prince of the World. Satan, the Accuser: a real enemy, whose existence is reduced to a concept by the most progressive Christians, but whom Francis never tired<\/strong> of warning against.<\/p>\n The wounded whom the Church heals, as a \u00abfield hospital\u00bb<\/i>, are men struck by sin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n They are the families<\/strong> destroyed by selfishness, greed and lack of fidelity; they are the marginalized<\/strong> by blind financial capitalism and the idolatry of the market and profit; they are the people<\/strong> who lose themselves in the confused and mortifying sexuality of gender ideology; they are the victims<\/strong> of a politics more worried about power arrangements than about peace.<\/p>\n They are the children of Gaza<\/strong> scourged by bombs, but they are also the confused children<\/strong>, scattered and emptied of a West that has lost faith.<\/p>\n It is not true, as some have sometimes claimed, that this image puts the good and morality in the background<\/strong>, or that it makes one forget that the source of all this pain is sin, the distance from God.<\/p>\n Exactly the opposite is true: the tragedy inherent in it clearly indicates the reality of evil, recognizing the spiritual war<\/strong> that is underway and the nature of the wounds that the Church has been sent to heal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I was immersed in these reflections as I was preparing to study the Dilexit nos<\/em><\/strong> – his encyclical on the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – when Pope Francis<\/strong> passed away.<\/p>\n He left suddenly, leaving me with a tide of doubts<\/strong>, at the mercy of the storm of positions that developed around his name.<\/p>\n Yet reading the opinions about him – some totally praising, others deeply critical – I felt that my doubts were not so illegitimate. Pope Francis was a man of paradoxes<\/strong>. Humble in gestures, in manners, in his approach to the faithful – especially the smallest and weakest – and yet often very severe, almost authoritarian, in responding to criticism.<\/p>\n While he repeated the importance of synodality<\/strong>, he responded only indirectly to the Dubia<\/strong><\/i> of conservatives. On several occasions he allowed himself controversial statements<\/strong>, participated in religious celebrations of other faiths, or attacked traditionalists rather harshly, then appearing almost unconcerned<\/strong> about the fractures these attitudes caused in the Church.<\/p>\n Yet Francis was much more precise and subtle in his writings, so much so that it is always possible, if one only tries, to read his teaching in full continuity<\/strong> with tradition.<\/p>\n His reflections on human responsibility towards Creation, on conjugal love and on human failures in that area, as well as his more theological thoughts around the Sacred Heart of Jesus, are precious teachings<\/strong> and more necessary than ever in our particular age.<\/p>\n Despite this, he was indisputably very casual<\/strong> in his pastoral preaching. On occasions when some particularly rash reflection was instrumentalized by the mass media and caused scandal, Francis was often slow<\/strong> to publish any clarifying word – so much so that it seemed he did not like to contradict himself<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It is this characteristic of his that earned him, from many faithful, clerics and even some bishops – who are all too easily labelled disobedient and schismatic – the accusation of creating confusion<\/strong> and even of supporting, perhaps unintentionally, heretical doctrines<\/strong>, such as forms of religious indifferentism or universalism, or errors related to Eucharistic discipline.<\/p>\n He was extremely loved by the world<\/strong> – which is not necessarily positive for a Pope – but also by And yet he was also detested by many<\/strong>, seen as an aid to the powerful, a source of confusion, a man harmful to the Church.<\/p>\n Those who had the opportunity to meet him in person, however, almost always respected and loved him deeply<\/strong>. Among those who spoke of Francis with great affection are also public figures strongly critical of laissez-faire<\/em> Catholicism, such as the apologist Trent Horn<\/strong>, Bishop Robert Barron<\/strong>, Cardinal Robert Sarah<\/strong> and countless others.<\/p>\n Who Pope Francis was, even now, six months after his death, I find it hard to understand<\/strong>. Whether he left Leo XIV a Church in better or worse condition than he received it from Pope Benedict XVI, I think that it is not for me<\/strong> to judge.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n One thing, however, I feel compelled to observe, and to offer as a reflection<\/strong>. An idea that was suggested to me a few days after his death, while praying for him and for our Church, and which has since continued to linger in my mind.<\/p>\n What drew so many<\/strong> around Pope Francis?<\/p>\n What fascinated so deeply so many people, especially those who are afflicted<\/strong> by situations of suffering and above all by sin?<\/p>\n People historically marginalized by the Church<\/strong>, such as the divorced, or those who live in irregular family situations, the homosexual<\/strong>, but also young people who reject the faith, and who are passionate about topics contrary to Christian morality<\/strong> such as abortion, or gender theories?<\/p>\n A man at the opposite extreme from Francis would say something like: \u201cThe world wants to see its damned perversions justified<\/strong>\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n Even today, I think that man would not<\/strong> be entirely wrong. Perhaps the world truly desires that whoever has the task of reminding it of its iniquity conform to it<\/strong> and fall silent forever.<\/p>\n However, I believe this is not merely the search for validation \u2014 at least not on the part of all or the majority of those who loved Francis. I think that this alone would not<\/strong> be enough to justify his attractiveness.<\/p>\n The image of the field hospital<\/strong> returns to mind: those wounded by sin, the spiritual war, the fear of dying forever \u2014 not only in the body, but also in the spirit. I believe that Pope Francis<\/strong> understood and intercepted this fear. A fear that underlies a huge hunger for mercy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I believe there is a desire<\/strong> in the heart of every modern man. Not always conscious, not always well directed, but nonetheless authentic: that of knowing their life redeemed<\/strong> \u2014 a hunger for salvation, for redemption.<\/p>\n This is the same hunger that, still lacking authentic repentance, drives the prodigal son<\/strong> to return to the Father (Luke 15:11\u201332). A void that is today more present than ever.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here, with his limits and contradictions, perhaps Pope Francis<\/strong> in his pastoral approach managed to convey<\/strong> the idea of being able, like Christ, to say to those afflicted by sin: \u201cNeither do I judge you\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n Perhaps he was not always able to add<\/strong>, with the precision that some of us would like, \u201cnow go, and sin no more\u201d<\/em>. Maybe. I understand, and partially still share, the thoughts of those who would have wanted greater clarity<\/strong> in this.<\/p>\n On the other hand, I am led to say that whoever among us is able to be fully like Christ, let them cast the first stone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Pope Francis<\/strong> had a deep devotion to Mary<\/strong>, and now comes to mind the private revelation of a mystic who claimed that Jesus, speaking to her about his mother, had said something like: \u201cI am love and justice. My mother, however, is only love\u201d<\/i>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The reflection of the young blogger Alfredo Salata. The journey from hatred of Pope Bergoglio to a change of perspective after his death.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":62330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":152,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1078,2040,2041,283],"class_list":["post-62329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-against-pope-francis","tag-alfredo-salata","tag-criticisms-pope-francis","tag-pope-francis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n![\"alfredo](\"https:\/\/www.uccronline.it\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/alfredo_salata.webp\")
<\/p>\n
\nAlfredo Salata*<\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\nContempt for Pope Francis<\/h2>\n
When I began to change my perspective<\/h2>\n
The image of the “field hospital”<\/h2>\n
Pope Francis, lights and shadows<\/h2>\n
Why Was Bergoglio So Loved by Those Far Away?<\/h2>\n
“Neither Do I Judge You”<\/h2>\n