As if sensing an opportunity while the Pope’s gaze is diverted to questions about the traditional Mass, the Curia and foreign travel, two prelates have moved to pressure Leo into altering Holy Orders.
The spring and early summer calendar for the Pope is, without doubt, hectic. He visits the Principality of Monaco today before embarking on a 10-day voyage to Africa on 13 April – just after the immensely busy period of Holy Week and Easter. Two Italian day trips are then lined up for May – to Pompeii and Acerra – before Leo heads to Spain in early June. Then comes another day trip to Pavia later that month, before the second part of January’s Extraordinary Consistory around the feast of Ss Peter and Paul – it is safe to say that Leo’s roster is full.
