Vatican City: Pope Francis has approved a new three-year process to advance reforms within the global Catholic Church, the Vatican announced on Saturday. The decision signals that the 88-year-old pontiff intends to continue leading the Church despite his ongoing battle with double pneumonia.
Extending the work of the Synod of Bishops, a key initiative of his 12-year papacy, Francis aims to further discussions on potential reforms, including the possibility of women serving as Catholic deacons and the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals within the Church. The synod, which convened an inconclusive Vatican summit last October to deliberate on the Church’s future, will now hold global consultations for three years before hosting another summit in 2028.
The Vatican confirmed that Francis approved this extended reform process on Tuesday from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been undergoing treatment. The pope’s prolonged hospitalization—now exceeding a month—has fueled speculation about a possible resignation, following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.
However, those close to Francis, including his biographers and confidants, insist that he has no intention of stepping down. The decision to initiate a new multi-year reform process further underscores his commitment to leading the Church forward, despite his advanced age and ongoing health challenges.
“The Holy Father … is helping push the renewal of the Church toward a new missionary impulse,” Cardinal Mario Grech, who is overseeing the reform process, told the Vatican’s media outlet. “This is truly a sign of hope.”
Bringing the Church ‘Up to Date’
Since assuming the papacy in 2013, Francis has been widely recognized for his efforts to modernize the Catholic Church, seeking greater inclusivity and openness. However, his reform agenda has faced resistance from certain quarters, including senior cardinals who accuse him of diluting traditional Church teachings on issues such as same-sex marriage and remarriage after divorce.
Massimo Faggioli, a professor at Villanova University and a close observer of the papacy, views the new reform process as a clear indication that Francis remains firmly in charge of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church.
“Francis’ pontificate is not over, and this decision he just made for what happens between now and 2028 will have an effect on the rest of (it),” Faggioli said.
Last year’s Vatican summit, which failed to produce definitive action on proposed reforms, led to questions about whether Francis’ leadership momentum was waning. At the time, Vatican officials emphasized that the pope was still considering changes and awaiting a set of ten reports on potential reforms, expected in June this year.
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Meanwhile, the Vatican’s latest medical updates indicate that the pope’s condition is improving, and he is no longer in immediate danger. However, there is no official word on when he will be discharged from the hospital.
Throughout his recovery, well-wishers have gathered outside the hospital to show their support. Stefania Gianni, an Italian cancer patient receiving treatment at the facility, praised the pope’s efforts to modernize the Church.
“He has taken great steps to bring the Church up to date with the times,” she said. “He is a great man and a great pope, and the Church still needs him.”
