Pope Benedict XVI

Los observadores del Vaticano perciben una mayor decisión por parte de Francisco para ajustar cuentas con sus detractores.

El papado actual parece estar provocando que las alas conservadora y liberal se distancien cada vez más.

Vatican observers see a leader more willing to crack down on those seeking to derail his agenda for the Roman Catholic Church.

Punishing conservatives, reining in progressives.

In an in-flight news conference after six days in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, Francis also denounced conservative critics who he said had “instrumentalized” the death of Benedict XVI.

Two essays make plain the different views often obscured by careful political maneuvering within the church.

Liberal supporters of Francis, a pope never shy about exercising power, now anticipate a late-breaking season of change.

The heart of his message lay in what he said not to Catholics but to atheists.

An extraordinary period for the modern church ended with Francis presiding over the funeral of his retired predecessor. Some conservatives found the ceremony too modest for their standard-bearer.

The former pope’s supporters, who include conservatives, said Francis’ approach seemed paltry in comparison to Benedict’s homily at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.