The vicar’s inaction drew the disapproval of one of Francis’ auxiliary bishops in Rome, Bishop Daniele Libanori. Rupnik himself was eventually excommunicated by the Vatican for absolving a woman he had sexual relations with. The Vatican later reversed the excommunication, but the Jesuits expelled Rupnik after he refused to obey restrictions that remained on his ministry.
Eventually, De Donatis issued a long statement in December 2022 revealing that the diocese was not aware of the accusations or the restrictions on Rupnick and expressing the hope that those in charge shed light on what happened.
Last January, Francis reformed church law, releasing a new apostolic constitution, “In Ecclesiarum Communion,” that made sweeping changes to the church. One reform was to centralize control of the Diocese of Rome around the pontiff more than any of his predecessors have done. In the new constitution, the vicar is described as an “auxiliary” and the pope is given the final say on the choice of priests, the expenditure of funds and the everyday running of the diocese. The reforms also empowered a vice regent, Monsignor Baldassare Reina, to act as a liaison between the pope and his diocese, effectively sidelining the role of the vicar.
In 2021, Pope Francis sent the Vatican’s revisor general, Alessandro Cassinis Righini, to look into the budget and finances of the Roman Diocese. It was the first time in history that the Vicariate of Rome underwent a financial audit. While the Vatican did not release a statement on the audit, local media reported that it was motivated by cases of mismanagement and lavish expenditures, such as the restoration of a chapel in the Church of St. John Lateran.
De Donatis has been forced to compete with other Catholic organizations in Rome that have grown in influence under this pope — the Jesuit order, which counts Francis as a member; the conference of Italian bishops, whose president is leading Francis’ peace efforts in Ukraine; and lay movements such as the Community of St. Egidio, which has taken over other diplomatic efforts and charitable efforts backed by the pope.
In conversations with Religion News Service, several priests in Rome voiced their concerns about issues of ideology, management issues and the handling of sexual abuse cases.
All refused to be quoted in this article for fear of being disciplined.
De Donatis is not the only casualty of Francis’ leadership style, which pays little respect to titles. The No. 2 official at the Vatican, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has seen his station weakened and his diplomacy efforts set aside by papal reform. The Vatican departments dealing with doctrine and human rights were first commissioned under Francis’ reforms and then saw their prefects replaced.
Francis has a vision for the church of collegiality and fraternity — a synodal church, as he would call it — but to achieve his goal he has shown that he is more than willing to ruffle a few feathers and take matters into his own hands.
This article originally appeared here.
