In 2019, Pope Francis gathered bishops to discuss the potential ordination of married men in rural South America, igniting hopes for significant changes in the celibacy rule. The bishops leaned towards advocating for change, reflecting Francis's desire for grassroots-driven reform. However, he ultimately decided against altering the millennia-old tradition, leading to disappointment among progressive Catholics. Francis had been seen as a catalyst for change, yet his tenure highlighted the tensions between revolutionary aspirations and the conservative nature of the church he led. His legacy illustrates the complexities of managing expectations within a deeply traditional institution.
When Pope Francis convened Roman Catholic bishops at the Vatican in 2019 to discuss the ordination of married men in remote parts of South America, the meeting raised expectations about the possibility of revolutionizing the celibate priesthood.
Many of his supporters, who expected him to be a pope of radical change, felt let down. It was a salient example of how Francis, who died on Monday at 88, was a pope of great, often outsized, expectations.
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