Pope Francis is a weak leader

Weakness is defined as “the state or condition of lacking strength” or “a quality or feature regarded as a disadvantage.” Christianity is not a faith built upon weakness. It’s a faith creating disciples of Jesus Christ. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the core of Christianity. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our guilt, not His own guilt, is the portrait of strength. The Church, however, is being led by a weak and cowardly pope.

Pope Francis seems to play politics while simultaneously attempting to lead Christians to living a life pleasing to God. It cannot be both ways. One of the most controversial issues restricting Francis from being the leader Christ expects of His Church leader is the support he shows for the LGBTQ lifestyle. His acceptance of this sin seems to be growing weaker with the passing of time.

In a 2021 Vatican statement made by Luis F. Card. Ladaria, S.I., the teaching was reaffirmed that the Church did not allow the blessing of same-sex marriage. In “Response of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to a dubium regarding the blessing of the unions of persons of same sex” dated March 15, 2021, the question is asked, “does the Church have the power to give the blessing to unions of persons of the same sex?” The response was a direct “negative”. The Church stands against any type of discrimination regarding those in such a lifestyle but is not allowed to bless such sinful lifestyles and unions. That does not, on the other hand, make the sin acceptable to God. Loving the person does not equate to loving or accepting the sin. The response continues by giving, in part, this explanation for the answer. “Furthermore, since blessings on persons are in relationship with the sacraments, the blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit. This is because they would constitute a certain imitation or analogue of the nuptial blessing invoked on the man and woman united in the sacrament of Matrimony, while in fact ‘there are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family. The declaration of the unlawfulness of blessings of unions between persons of the same sex is not therefore, and is not intended to be, a form of unjust discrimination, but rather a reminder of the truth of the liturgical rite and of the very nature of the sacramentals, as the Church understands them.”

On the other hand, it appears that Pope Francis is doing the very opposite of what the Lord and the Church expect from the pope. The pope’s statements and actions over the last two years since that response has shown an increasing weakness against sin. This is evidenced by the pope’s response to a letter from five cardinals this month asking the pope to clarify some of his statements and stances. One of those questions was aimed at the pope’s belief about blessing same-sex marriages. Francis responded, in an apparent deviation from the Church’s belief and teachings in 2021, “we cannot be judges who only deny, push back, and exclude….as such, pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of blessing, requested by one or several people, that do not convey a wrong idea of a matrimony. Because when one seeks a blessing, one is requesting help from God.”

The continued softening of sin and refusal to urge repentance is a detriment to the Church. Rather than warning those living in sin of the dangers of refusing repentance, Francis removed Luis F. Card. Ladaria, S.I., from the position with the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Instead of condemning the mockery of the religious and the Blessed Sacrament in Los Angeles, Francis punishes Bishop Joseph Strickland for defending Christ by putting Strickland under investigation. “I have not come to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners.” (Luke 5:32) Jesus came to call sinners and urge repentance. It is the pope’s job, as well as our own responsibility, to do the same.  Pope Francis is a weak leader. He lacks the strength and courage to stand for the Lord in opposition of the world’s ways.