REPORT | Il Giornale: Parolin's remark on "reshaping" the pontificate seen as "inappropriate" in the Vatican

REPORT. According to Il Giornale, Pietro Parolin's remark raising the possibility that Pope Leo XIV might "reshape" his pontificate has caused unease in the Vatican. The Secretary of State had already clarified on Friday that he was referring to papal travel, starting with the Latin America trip. The newspaper attributes the judgement that the remark was "inappropriate" to unnamed prelates and insiders: there is no official confirmation.

What Il Giornale reports
In an article by Nico Spuntoni published today, Sunday 18 October, under the headline "The storm over Parolin: 'His words were inappropriate'" (Il Giornale, in Italian), the newspaper describes "an unfortunate remark" that "stirred up a storm in the Vatican, forcing Parolin to clarify that he was referring to the trip to Latin America" (our translation). According to Spuntoni, "despite this, among prelates and insiders the judgement remains unanimous" that using the verb "reshape" was "inappropriate", and "there is surprise that the Secretary of State, known for his prudence, made this slip" (our translation). The paper also discusses relations between the cardinal and the Pope ("the spark has not been struck between the two", our translation) and suggests that, now that he has been discharged, the Pope may have a "clarification" with the Secretary of State. These are the newspaper's own reconstructions and assessments, based on anonymous sources.

What Parolin said, and where
On Thursday 15 October, on the sidelines of an event at the Embassy of Iraq to the Holy See, while the Pope was in the Gemelli, Parolin told journalists: "It has been barely two days since the Pope was admitted and no predictions of any kind can be made. We now have to see when he returns, in what condition he returns, what the doctors will say. And on the basis of all these elements the Pope will then also reshape his pontificate, if it is necessary to reshape it" (our translation; ANSA, in Italian). On the Latin America trip he spoke of "a long and demanding journey" that "will depend on the doctors" (our translation).

Friday's clarification
On Friday 16 October, on the sidelines of an event at the Catholic University, Parolin clarified that by "reshaping the pontificate" he meant papal travel: "for instance, at least with regard to this next trip" (our translation; Leggo; ANSA). Our earlier coverage: "Reshaping the pontificate": Parolin's words, the clarification and the reactions.

Context: the convalescence and the November trip
Pope Leo XIV was discharged from the Gemelli Hospital yesterday and returned to the Vatican. At today's Angelus he said: "Now that I have overcome this delicate phase, as you know, I will gradually resume my activities, always with God’s help and your prayers" (vatican.va; our article). The apostolic journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru from November 6 to 17 has not yet been officially confirmed: the surgeon Stefano Margaritora told Vatican News that "there are no clinical reasons why this visit should not take place", a medical assessment rather than a decision of the Holy See (Vatican News; the Latin America trip).

What is confirmed and what is not
Confirmed: Parolin's words on Thursday and his clarification on Friday, reported by the agencies; the Pope's words at the Angelus (B0820). Not confirmed: the unease in the Vatican, the judgement that the remark was "inappropriate" and the assessments of relations between Parolin and the Pope, which Il Giornale attributes to unnamed sources. Neither the Holy See Press Office nor Parolin has commented on the article.

Sources: Il Giornale · ANSA · Leggo · vatican.va · Vatican News

#LeoXIV #Parolin #Vatican