While strolling around Borgo Pio, I ran into none other than Jesuit James Martin and Briton Austen Ivereigh, two of the most enthusiastic supporters of Pope Francis’ pontificate and tireless defenders of the synodal, inclusive, and dialogue-oriented approach… at least on paper.
Upon seeing them, my friend and travel companion wanted to say hello, so we introduced ourselves: “We’re from InfoVaticana.” The reaction was immediate and, frankly, revealing. James Martin, author of “Building a Bridge,” that book that claims to build bridges between the Church and those on the margins, turned his back on us without saying a word. No dialogue, no bridge, not even a greeting. Just a wall. Quite telling. We must not be his type.
Austen Ivereigh, on the other hand, did speak to us… though perhaps he wishes he hadn’t. Visibly upset — and increasingly so as the conversation went on — he stood up, came over to us, and strongly reproached us for the “campaign” he believes we’re running against Cardinal Robert Prevost. “Very interesting campaign you’re running against Prevost,” he said, with a tone mixed with anger and frustration.
When we replied, “No, not against Prevost; against the culture of cover-up in the Church — are you now in favor of that?”, the discomfort was palpable. Nervously, Ivereigh referenced the Sodalitium as the supposed origin of our information. When we explained that there are many cases, all documented, he sarcastically insisted that InfoVaticana “always has more,” referring to the documents we’ve been publishing on the matter. His reaction left no doubt: Prevost was their man, the candidate in whom they had placed all their hopes.
The scene could not have been more telling. Just hours before the conclave begins, the insiders are nervous. Not because anyone is slandering Prevost, but because the truth is coming to light. Because the documents, the testimonies, and the omissions are there — documented and published. And more are on the way.
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