No Turning Back from the Gadarene Cliff
At 86 and in poor health, Francis knows his time is short.
“If and when Francis is no longer pope, his legacy will remain strong,” Fernandez said. “For example, the pope is convinced that the things he’s already written or said cannot be condemned as an error. Therefore, in the future anyone can repeat those things without fear of being sanctioned. And then the majority of the People of God with their special sense will not easily accept turning back on certain things.”
In other words, the incoming head of the Vatican’s most important theological body expressed confidence that the pope’s revisionism will become the new orthodoxy. When asked if a successor will undo Francis’ work, Fernandez gave a blunt answer:
“No, there’s no turning back.”