That Pope Leo chose to mark the anniversary of Amoris Laetitia at all is uncharacteristically telling.

The post-synodal exhortation “on love in the family” published on 19 March 2016 sent Francis’ critics hopping mad. It became the archetype for what they saw as his insufferable combination of woolly morality and Jesuitical cunning, slipping in admitting divorced-and remarried Catholics to Communion in a footnote. Even to hear Leo mention the document last week must have had the usual suspects reaching for the smelling salts.

As plenty of commentary noted, his message marking the anniversary made no mention of that footnote, nor of the spluttering it occasioned. As if it would: the Magisterium is all about irenic (and some times ironic) continuity, such that Amoris Laetitia is itself riddled with references to Familiaris Consortio, the 1981 exhortation in which John Paul II reaffirmed the practice of “not admitting to Eucharistic Communion divorced persons who have remarried”, unless, it was explained, they lived together as “brother and sister”. By the same logic, reformers shouldn’t get too excited about the message and Leo’s plan to invite the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences to a meeting in October to discuss the proclamation of the Gospel to families. His thanks for “the stimulus that has encouraged reflection and pastoral conversion” was neutral on content.

Get Instant Access

Continue Reading

Register for free to read this article in full

REGISTER

Subscribe for unlimited access

SUBSCRIBE NOW

From just £37.50 quarterly

  Print copy of The Tablet delivered directly to your door.
  Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
  Access to the weekly digital copy of The Tablet.
  Full access to The Tablet’s archive – over 180 years of back issues.

Already a subscriber? Login