Pope Francis Complex Legacy
Title: When it came to curbing sexual abuse, Pope Francis was neither a hero nor a villain
Author: Sara Larson
Publisher: Religion News Service
Date: 23APR2025
(RNS) — I am grateful for the ways Francis moved us forward; I’m also deeply disappointed in the ways he let us down.
As a committed Catholic who cares deeply about addressing abuse in the church, I’m often asked what I think about Pope Francis. I’m never quite sure how to respond.
It’s no secret that Francis has been a polarizing figure in the American church, provoking a wide range of feelings. More often than not, I suspect people ask my opinion so they can categorize me: “Oh, she’s a conservative who just criticizes Francis” or “She’s one of those liberals who thinks Francis is so great.” They want me to paint the pope in black and white — as a hero or a villain. That temptation remains, it seems, even after his death.
Those who want to see Francis as a hero who brought much-needed reform have ample evidence of progress in the church’s approach to abuse under his leadership.
One hopeful sign early in Francis’ papacy was the creation of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the first Vatican body dedicated to abuse prevention at a global level. His willingness to meet with and apologize to abuse survivors around the world (and not only when abuse was headline news) deepened the sense that this leader cared about this issue and those who had been harmed. In 2018, when he accused abuse victims of “calumny” as he defended Chilean Bishop Juan Barros against charges of protecting abusive priests, Francis showed evidence of humility and growth: After being challenged by his own adviser, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the pope apologized and eventually changed course.
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