VATICAN CITY — On the morning of October 21, 2019, an unusual incident unfolded in Rome as Amazonian bishops congregated at the Vatican. A man entered a nearby church after dawn, where Indigenous statues brought to the city for the event were displayed. In a protest caught on video, the statues were stolen and thrown into the Tiber River as a denunciation of what the perpetrator termed “pagan idolatry” under Pope Francis’ leadership.
This brazen act highlighted the extent of dissatisfaction among traditionalist critics of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, known for his progressive reforms. Facing a combination of personal protests, social media campaigns, and organized conferences, conservatives made no secret of their belief that they were more aligned with the core tenets of Catholicism than the pope himself, thus setting up a rare vocal resistance to his authority.
Speculation now turns to the College of Cardinals and their likely moves to install a successor more in line with conservative ideologies, following Francis’ death at the age of 88.
“Some wanted me dead,” Pope Francis once remarked, acknowledging the deep opposition to his agenda, which marked a stark shift from the conservative leadership style familiar to Catholics under previous pontiffs. He had heard whispers about certain prelates planning for a conclave succession while he was hospitalized.
The opposition to Francis was unparalleled, partly because for a decade, Pope Benedict XVI lived nearby in the Vatican Gardens as pope emeritus. His presence added an unprecedented dynamic to Francis’ papacy, creating rifts within the church that experts argue need addressing to avoid influence from retired popes on their successors.
While Pope Francis initially tolerated right-wing dissent, often choosing to meet antagonism with silence, he later appeared to embrace criticism as a testament to reform progress. He noticed the opposition from U.S.-based factions and famously declared, “It’s an honor if the Americans attack me.”
The period after Benedict’s death in 2022 saw Francis working to consolidate his reforms despite continued criticism. Efforts included key clerical appointments and dismissals aimed at neutralizing resistance while trying to foster a more inclusive church, particularly reaching out to LGBTQ+ communities.
However, not all responses were united behind Francis. After approving blessings for same-sex couples, African bishops uniformly voiced disapproval, marking an extraordinary moment of continent-wide dissent against papal directive.
The beginning of Francis’ papacy had been met with skepticism from conservatives, uneasy with his less traditional approach — epitomized by his Holy Thursday ritual washing of women’s and Muslims’ feet, a symbolic act breaking with a history of male-only participants.
Tension heightened in 2016 when Francis opened the possibility of allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics access to Communion, leading some detractors to accuse him of heresy. Four conservative cardinals formally issued “dubia” queries challenging his stance.
Francis’ decision to reimpose restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass, counteracting Pope Benedict’s earlier relaxation, further fueled conservative protests. The action was perceived as a declaration of war against traditionalists. Opposition was vocal, with critics accusing Francis of dividing rather than unifying the church, sparking high-profile criticism from figures like Cardinal Raymond Burke.
Episodes of intra-church contention were not isolated to liturgical practices. A previously concealed book, co-authored by Benedict, was found reaffirming the stance on priestly celibacy amid talks of new ordinations in the Amazon, causing a stir.
In reaction to conservative emerged challenges, some Vatican figures, such as Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, accused Francis of shielding perpetrators, including then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Despite the furor, Francis withstood these accusations and further actioned reforms by later excommunicating Vigano.
Though these instances illustrated the breadth of resistance, supporters lauded Francis for advocating a pastorally guided church, more attuned to lay needs. His emphasis on accompaniment echoed throughout a tenure marked by a fundamental commitment to welcoming all faith practitioners.
Papal biographer Austen Ivereigh asserted that the resistance was largely dismantled under Francis’ reforms. Echoing the imagery of the Amazonian synod, he extolled the pope’s focus on direct and inclusive engagement, stating, “The pastor among his people, walking together… That sums him up.”