The year of the Pope's reforms? Incorrect display News

In Chile, and Ireland was confronted with Pope Francis in 2018, with the issue of abuse, from Washington, a resignation came to claim. Reforms remained on track.

Jan-Christoph Kitzler, ARD Studio Rome

pretty exactly a year ago, Pope Francis has said a sentence that should take its critics the Wind out of the sails. To all that expect of him more, where it goes too slowly with the Reform of the Catholic Church, he said:

"In Rome reforms, as if to clean the Sphinx in Egypt with a toothbrush."

It was a year in which, again, very little went ahead, in the Headquarters of the Catholic Church. The new Curia of the Constitution? Will still expected. The closest Advisory body of the Pope, the nine-member Kardinalsrat, including the Chairman of the German bishops, cardinal Reinhard Marx, is significantly weakened. Two members recalled Francis just because against you in connection with abuse cases is determined.

the duration of the issue of abuse

no, you can't say that it was a good year for Pope Francis. This was mainly on the issue of abuse. The disaster messages came from the USA and Australia, they followed the Pope on his travels - and not always he was sent to.

In January, he responded in Chile patzig on the question to Juan Barros Madrid, a local Bishop, who is said to have covered a perpetrator: "If You have a proof against Bishop Barros, I'm going to say something about that. There is not a single proof, that's all slander - is that clear?"

apology and resignations

hours later on the return flight, after fierce protests from survivors, Francis was remorseful: "I must ask you to excuse me, because the word 'evidence' has done to many victims of abuse hurt. I'm sorry if I have hurt you without being aware of it. That's not what I wanted."

Finally, the Pope asks for forgiveness.

And then, after the scandal was all the way in and began to work the clean-up. The Chilean bishops were ordered to Rome, offered almost closed her resignation. Meanwhile, the Bishop Barros has him, the Pope accepted in seven cases.

Pope Francis during his trip would not come to Ireland in the off-topic, it was clear to many of the cases there had, for too long the Church had been placed there, the state-employed investigators. The extent of the protests and the only lack of enthusiasm for the Pope in once-Catholic Ireland were surprising.

asking for forgiveness - even in Ireland

Francis responded, found clear words: "We ask forgiveness for the abuse in Ireland abuse of Power and sexual abuse by members of the responsible positions in the Church, and particularly for forgiveness for any abuses that have been committed in different types of institutions under the direction of members of religious orders and other Church members. We ask forgiveness for those members of the hierarchy, which are not addressed in this painful Situation, but said nothing: We ask for forgiveness."

Pope Francis condemned during his trip to Ireland, the thousands of sexual and other abuse of children and women by Catholic priests. On the last day of allegations overtook him, after which he is said to have covered up abuse.

It was in this year also ricochet from its own ranks, took the cases of abuse, in order to weaken the Pope. Carlo Maria Viganò, after all, Archbishop, and formerly Nuncio in Washington, even called for the resignation of the Pope. More and more of him, well-disposed, meanwhile, have doubts as to whether he is the Right one for the theme. You hope for the beginning of the new year, as the Chairman of the bishops ' conferences meet the world in Rome to discuss the issue of abuse. Be open to the outcome.

the Church

it is not clear yet, what will become of the youth Synod, which was convened by the Pope in the autumn. Although the young people themselves had no voting rights - but they were heard. Even the difficult topics: women in the Catholic Church, participation of the laity, sexuality: "A Church that is not listening, closed to the news, to the Surprises of God. You can't be especially for the young people to be credible, the removal otherwise of her."

Whether the Pope has listened to what its conclusions are, is still unclear. In the coming months, a papal Letter, it is expected of him.

on the issue of abortion is massively in the criticism

In its closer environment, there is always concern, when the Pope improvised. Then it may happen that he pushes people in front of the head. How, as he women, which compared abortion with people who hire cold-blooded murder: "Is it to hire a contract killer to solve a Problem? This is not, it is not right to make a human being a cold, in order to solve a Problem. And it was still so small. It's like if you hired a contract killer."

it is Clear, however, that Pope Francis wants to put his reform course. The only question is whether he has more tools in the Hand than a toothbrush.

Two days before Christmas, Pope Francis visited Benedict, his predecessor.

child abuse: Pope deplores the "failure" of the Church, All the bishops of Chile to offer resignation, 18.05.2018 Francis expressed "shame" over a "broken world", 30.03.2018 Atlas |the Vatican |Vatican