The Dictator Pope
| File:The Dictator Pope.png English-language cover | |
| Original title | Il Papa Dittatore |
|---|---|
| Language | English, Italian |
| Subject | Pope Francis |
| Published | November 2017 |
| Publisher | Amazon Kindle |
| Publication place | Italy |
Published in English | December 2017 |
| Pages | 141[1] |
The Dictator Pope (Italian: Il Papa Dittatore) is a biography of Jorge Bergoglio (Pope Francis) authored by the pseudonymous "Marcantonio Colonna" (the name of a Catholic admiral who fought at the Battle of Lepanto). Published initially in Italian, but later on in English, the book takes a highly critical view of Bergoglio and his papacy over the Catholic Church. The book contends to be "the inside story of the most tyrannical and unprincipled papacy of modern times," arguing that Bergoglio, while presenting himself as humble, rules over the Church through fear and has allied to some of the most corrupt elements in the Vatican. On its 2017 release, the book reached 4th place on Amazon Kindle's Religion and Spirituality bestseller list.[2]
Content
The book places the political and theological statements made by Bergoglio, as well as his leadership style, into a specifically Argentine context, comparing him to former President Juan Perón, whereby Perón during his political career was able to talk to diametrically opposed political tendencies and tell each of them that they were right and that he agreed with them.[2] The book presents this supposed Peronist attitude as a kind of ruthless opportunism according to The Spectator.[3]
Topics of discussion in the book include the background to Bergoglio's ascent to the Papacy, mentioning the St. Gallen Group of supposed "liberal modernist"[4] high ranking clerics, maturated under Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini who are alleged to have attempted to stop Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger from becoming pope during the 2005 Papal conclave.[2] According to the Catholic Herald, the author "Colonna" alleges that this group adopted Bergoglio as their candidate for the 2013 Papal conclave, "With Martini dead, and most of the group coming within a hair of the cut-off age for participation in a conclave, time was running out – they knew this was their last realistic chance."[2]
"Colonna" states in his book that much of the controversy surrounding the Synod on the Family was a product of the St. Gallen Group's desire to change Catholic moral teaching as it applied to giving Holy Communion to the divorced. He makes the claim, quoting Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, that Bergoglio deliberately stacked the Synod with prelates who agreed with his view.[2] Also discussed are the Vatican's interventions in the cases of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, the Knights of Malta and the firing of three members of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith (which Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller protested against).[2] The book asserts that Bergoglio rules the Roman Curia "by fear".[2]
According to The Australian, outside of theological concerns, a major topic in the book is what "Colonna" views as the failure of Bergoglio's papacy when it comes to financial reform and the elimination of corruption in the Vatican. "Colonna" specifically accuses four cardinals of obstructing financial reform; Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the head of the Vatican Bank, Domenico Calcagno, the Prefect for Catholic Education Giuseppe Versaldi and the President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, Giuseppe Bertello.[4] It also discusses the police raid and subsequent confiscation of a large number of documents from the offices of Bergoglio-appointed Auditor General Libero Milone, who was forced to step down in September 2017 in murky circumstances.[4] First Things reported that the book discusses how a professional financial audit by PwC, commissioned by Cardinal George Pell, was suspended in 2016 by Substitute for General Affairs, Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu (under the orders of Cardinal Parolin).[5]
The reception of Bergoglio's papacy by the secular western world, particularly the non-Catholic media is discussed, while the book says that his Papacy is less popular with Catholics.[2] "Colonna" cites the dropping attendance figures at St. Peters Square for Papal weekly audiences from a high of 51,617 in 2013 to under 10,000 in 2016.[2] Bergoglio's public image of a humble man is also put under scrutiny.[2]
Reception
The book drew support from numerous conservative and traditionalist-leaning lay publications. LifeSiteNews,[6] The Catholic Thing,[7] One Peter Five,[8] The Remnant[9] and ChurchMilitant.com[10] were particularly supportive, some holding interviews with the author.[10][11] Others were more cautious in their endorsement, such as The Catholic Herald, which stated that it included "insight" but also "hearsay".[2] In particular it picked up on arguments of a supposed "disappeared report", authored by Peter Hans Kolvenbach, former Superior General of the Society of Jesus, who allegedly stated that a younger Bergoglio was "unsuitable" to be made a Bishop because of "character defects". In an interview with The Catholic Herald, the author of the book stated that it is not a rumour, but first-hand information from a priest who read the report.[12] A similar view to The Catholic Herald was taken by the Catholic World Report.[13]
Authorship
To conceal his identity, the author of the book decided to write under the pseudonym Marcantonio Colonna, an Italian nobleman who fought at the Battle of Lepanto. The author describes himself as a historian who was educated at the University of Oxford, but is now living in Rome.[14][15] "Colonna" said the reason he chose to keep his actual name private is due to the fear of retaliation, but expects to be "unmasked" by opponents eventually.[12] He also said that Bergoglio has been shown a list of six people who they think could have been the author and that a person in England who had been misidentified "received threatening phone calls from Rome".[12] Tess Livingstone of The Australian described in Rome a "frantic witch-hunt" to uncover the author.[4]
References
- ^ "Marcantonio Colonna" (12 December 2017). "The Dictator Pope". Amazon.com. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Dan Hitchens (12 December 2017). "'The Dictator Pope': a mixture of hearsay and insight". Catholic Herald. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Damian Thompson (23 December 2017). "Time is running out for the 'Dictator Pope' as a new scandal hits Rome". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d Tess Livingstone (1 December 2017). "The Dictator Pope book sparks witch hunt in Rome". The Australian. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|subscription=ignored (|url-access=suggested) (help) - ^ P. J. Smith (1 December 2017). "The Curial Sidelines". First Things. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Montaga, Diane (11 December 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: LifeSite interviews mysterious author of 'The Dictator Pope'". LifeSiteNews. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Royal, Robert (6 December 2017). "The Dictator Pope". The Catholic Thing. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Skojec, Steve (5 December 2017). "The Dictator Pope: A Must-Read Book, Available Now". One Peter Five. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Ferrara, Christopher A (15 December 2017). "The Dictator Pope: A Call to Hierarchical Opposition". The Remnant. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Niles, Christine (17 December 2017). "CM Exclusive: Author of 'The Dictator Pope' Speaks". Church Militant. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Montaga, Diane (11 December 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: LifeSite interviews mysterious author of 'The Dictator Pope". LifeSiteNews. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Hitchens, Dan (13 December 2017). "'They will unmask me eventually,' says author of 'The Dictator Pope'". Catholic Herald. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Lawler, Philip F (13 December 2017). ""The Dictator Pope" is sometimes frustrating, but filled with valuable insights and information". Catholic World Report. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Reporter, Staff (5 December 2017). "'Dictator Pope' book causes stir in Rome". Catholic Herald. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Di Mattei, Roberto (29 November 2017). "Cardinals Burke, Brandmüller, Müller and the "Dictator Pope"". Corrispondenza Romana. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
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