Category Archives: Reading Francis Through Benedict

Pope Francis blasts “gender” ideology, quotes Benedict XVI: “this is the age of sin against the Creator!”

Here’s something the Fishwrap (aka National Sodomitic Reporter) types will struggle with. On 27 July the Holy Father had a closed-door meeting with the bishops of Poland.  There was a brief Q&A.  Today Francis’ remarks were published. Here is an excerpt.  From … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict, Sin That Cries To Heaven | Tagged , ,
15 Comments

Pope Francis’ “accompaniment” language is not new. Pope Benedict XVI, in fact…

The way that some gush over the new insights in Amoris laetitia, you would think that a Pope had finally discovered that there are people out there, with … lives, and everything!  However, it could be that there is less innovation than … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict, Synod | Tagged , , , , , , ,
7 Comments

If you want peace, DEFEND LIFE!

There are rumors floating around about a restructuring of the Roman Curia, and a document which would replace Pastor bonus (will it be called”Mercenarius malus“?). Something in an article in CNA (HERE) that caught, and disturbed, my eye. The draft … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Emanations from Penumbras, Francis, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill | Tagged , , ,
23 Comments

Discontinuity and coverage of pontificates of Popes Francis and Benedict

At Monday Vatican Andrea Galiarducci, has an interesting piece.  It is worth reading, but be prepared for a clunky translation, some rambling, and a buried lead.  To be sure this writer is smart, well-informed, and solid.  He could benefit from … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill | Tagged , , , ,
12 Comments

Pondering Francis: Part II

A while back I posted an entry entitled “Pondering Francis“.  I am trying to get my head around this enigmatic man who is now the Vicar of Christ.  He sends mixed signals.  Surely there is a way to decode some … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Classic Posts, Francis, Linking Back, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , , , ,
48 Comments

Large gesture of openness toward SSPX!

Apparently one of the Francis Effects is “apertura”, “an opening up … openness”. I have suggested elsewhere on this blog, and not too long ago, that Pope Francis could be the one to show TLC to the traditional side.  Benedict … Read More

Posted in Brick by Brick, Francis, I'm just askin'..., Just Too Cool, New Evangelization, Reading Francis Through Benedict, SSPX | Tagged , , ,
34 Comments

Pope Francis on the airplane: The Synod, the family, Communion for the divorced and remarried

You may have heard that Pope Francis visited the Holy Land.  On the flight back to Italy, His Holiness held another presser. At this point many of you might be cringing as the thought “What could possible go wrong?” flashes … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, New Evangelization, One Man & One Woman, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill | Tagged , , , , , , ,
63 Comments

Wherein Fr. Z thanks Michael Sean Winters for support of all Pope Francis says

I’d like to thank Michael Sean Winters of the National Schismatic Reporter (the journal of record for all things schismatic, aka Fishwrap) for summarizing some points I made recently about the Holy Father’s remarks to a UN delegation, including his … Read More

Posted in Francis, Liberals, Lighter fare, Linking Back, Reading Francis Through Benedict | Tagged ,
6 Comments

Update on The Tablet Sourpusses, the Gänswein Interview

Over HERE I wrote about the sour reaction of the assistant editrix of The Pill (aka The Tablet, aka RU-486) to the interview given by Archbp. Georg Gänswein gave to German TV in which he spoke, inter alia, about Francis asking Benedict … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Linking Back, Reading Francis Through Benedict | Tagged , , , ,
7 Comments

Francis is shaping the role of Pope Emeritus

There is a 14 March ZDF video interview in German with Archbp. Georg Gänswein, the Prefect of the Pontifical Household and, simultaneously, particular secretary of Benedict XVI, Pope Emeritus. The interview reinforces my view that Pope Francis wants Benedict XVI to … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill | Tagged , ,
31 Comments

Fr. Z on Fr. Finigan on the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate

His Hermeneuticalness, the mighty P.P of Blackfen, the Dean of Bexley, the indominable Fr. Timothy Finigan opines on the situation the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate are faced with. The Commissar appointed by the Prefect of the Congregation for Religious, João … Read More

Posted in Be The Maquis, Benedict XVI, Francis, Hard-Identity Catholicism, Liberals, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , ,
51 Comments

Again HUGE news: Pope Francis explicitly endorses Benedict XVI’s “hermeneutic of continuity”

You will want to read this carefully and put it in your “IMPORTANT” file. This is, again, HUGE news. The 450th anniversary of the closing of the Council of Trent is coming up on 4 December.  We like to celebrate … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Brick by Brick, Francis, Hard-Identity Catholicism, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill, Vatican II | Tagged , , , ,
48 Comments

Reading Francis through Francis

When the liberals gush and gush and ooze about Pope Francis, the most wonderfullest, fluffiest Pope ehvurrrrr, they smear another brush-stroke of paint on the floor as their place in the corner gets smaller and smaller. One of these days, … Read More

Posted in Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill | Tagged ,
9 Comments

Wm. Oddie and Reading Francis Through Benedict

Over at the Catholic Herald, the UK’s best Catholic weekly, William Oddie has a piece in which he opines on the HUGE letter of support that Pope Francis send to Archbishop Marchetto. You will recall that Archbp. Marchetto has been … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict | Tagged , , , , ,
10 Comments

What Did The Pope Really Say? 2 – Proselytism

For a while I have intended to write something on Pope Francis’ harsh comments in his informal chat related by the atheist newsie Eugenio Scalfari about proselytism. The Pope smiles and says: “Some of my colleagues who know you told … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict | Tagged , ,
65 Comments

Fr. Swamp Fox, the Catholic Maquis, and You. Wherein Fr. Z rants.

I have written “Be The Maquis!” a few times. Why? Right now liberals – who misread Pope Francis and shamelessly instrumentalize him – are emboldened. They sense that they have the big mo, and, given the help they receive from … Read More

Posted in "But Father! But Father!", "How To..." - Practical Notes, Be The Maquis, Francis, Liberals, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, Religious Liberty, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Last Acceptable Prejudice, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , , , , ,
16 Comments

Must read post about Pope Francis and the “phoney war” being waged over him

Over at The Sensible Bond there is a must read post.  Here is a sample with my emphases: The phoney war in the Church: five linguistic thoughts on THAT interview Like speed, language is also war. It’s the stuff of propaganda. … Read More

Posted in "How To..." - Practical Notes, Benedict XVI, Fr. Z KUDOS, Francis, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged
117 Comments

Reading Francis Through Benedict: a workshop on misunderstanding Francis

We now have in Francis the most wonderfulest and fluffliest Pope ehvur.  Liberals are crowing that the bestest Pope of all is against rules.  He’s chill about abortion and women’s ordination and, like, stuff.  No other Pope has ever kissed … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict, The Drill | Tagged ,
48 Comments

Francis on the “Vetus Ordo”, Traditional Roman Rite. Wherein Fr. Z analyzes… and then rants.

In the Big Interview, Francis said in response to a question about the Second Vatican Council something about the Vetus Ordo, the older Mass, the Extraordinary Form. I’ll cut to the chase for those of you who only read the … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict, SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM, The Drill, The future and our choices, Vatican II, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged , ,
107 Comments

First thoughts about the Francis Interview

Pope Francis, formerly a Jesuit, gave a series of interviews to the Jesuits.  The interviews have been edited together, with parenthetical commentary and descriptions of the setting and so forth, and translated by lay people and Jesuits for publication in … Read More

Posted in Francis, Reading Francis Through Benedict | Tagged , ,
141 Comments