Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday, 25 April 2025

The future direction for the Papacy


Having posted some reflections yesterday about the death of Pope Francis and his legacy to the church I thought that I would share two online pieces that I came upon.  Both of them  accord with what I was trying to say, and may, indeed should, quite independently, be of interest to readers.

The media is awash with commentary, not least on which Cardinals are papabile and which are not, or should not be considered for whatever reason likely successors.  Amongst this vast outpouring I came upon the following.

The first is an article by the well-known U.S. historian of and commentator upon the Catholic Church, George Weigel. It is from the Catholic World Report website and draws attention to problems within the Franciscan pontificate, not least that the Cardinals ( other than the ‘St Gallen mafia’ ) did not know who they were voting for in 2013. 

His article can be seen at Retrospect on a pontificate

The vlog Return to Tradition makes no hesitation in consistently putting the case for traditional belief and practice in the Church. It is also very well researched and well-informed. It has a video today which picks up on the lack of connection between many of the current Cardinals, partly as a result of Pope Francis not summoning regular consistories. It also looks at the conflicted practicalities of organising the Conclave, and the change of mood in Rome. The video starts a bit abruptly with an excerpt from a cringe worthy U.S. discussion programme before the presenter  Antony Stine gets into his stride. He makes many good points about the situation now facing the Cardinals and the Church. 



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