Arturo Toscanini liked to say that there are two kinds of conductors: those who have the score in their head and those who have their head in the score.
Cardinal Oscar R. Maradiaga – archbishop emeritus of Tegucigalpa and coordinator of the C9, the council of cardinals responsible for surrounding the pope in his reform of the Roman Curia – seems to fall into the first category described by the famous Italian maestro.
In any case, this is what is suggested by the casual interview granted by the high prelate to the Rome Reports channel on January 18, 2022.
The cardinal begins by confirming that the idea of the C9 germinated during the “pre-conclave meetings,” with a clearly expressed goal: “that information not pass only through the apostolic nunciatures or the secretariat of State” and that the pope “be supported by a group of ‘grassroots’ cardinals.”
It is still necessary to know what is meant, in the thought of the porporato, by the expression “basic cardinals,” which seems to exclude part of the Sacred College, and for what reason.
But what is coming to light is that bypassing the Curia was on the agenda for the preparations for the 2013 conclave.
Even more interesting is the description of a pontificate that seems programmed in advance, like arranging perforated cardboard in a barrel organ; all that remains is to turn the crank for the score to come to life: the work of Pope Francis would consist of “a three-level reform,” according to Cardinal Maradiaga.
“A first spiritual level, supported by gestures and events such as the Jubilee Year of Mercy; a second ecclesiological level where the Church is asked to reflect on the notion of synodality; and finally an institutional level, with a reorganization of the dicasteries in order to promote economic transparency and the fight against abuses.”
For the C9 coordinator, it would be illusory to believe that the reign of the Argentine pontiff had come to an end: “whoever thinks that the page is turning for Pope Francis is wrong,” explains the Honduran cardinal. He also reveals the final stage planned for the current pontificate: “we must consolidate the reform with new appointments.”
In other words, to lock in the achievements of recent years, in order to protect them from a possible wind of restoration due to the possible pendulum effect of a future conclave, an unfortunate effect for the reformers, which should be anticipated.
It is perhaps also in this sense that the interpretation must be made of the latest restrictive provisions against the traditional mass taken via the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, as well as the latest consistories by which the sovereign pontiff seeks to maintain the number of cardinal electors, giving ever greater weight to the reformist line, and excluding – a priori – the election of a conservative pope.
One thing, however, remains certain: the provisions of Providence lie well beyond human calculations, even the most subtle. Stat Crux dum volvitur orbis, [the Cross stands while the world turns] and very audacious is anyone who would dare to bet on the agenda of the future pontificate.
One of the cardinals who is part of the inner circle of the current Roman pontiff has just delivered a brief analysis of the main stages of a pontificate which seems more and more set up like an orchestration.