Who are we to prejudge Pope Francis?
SIR – Is it fair to prejudge Pope Francis on controversial issues, such as Communion for remarried Catholics, before his apostolic exhortation on the recent synod has been published? Ross Douthat (Feature, January 15) sees him as sympathising with liberalism to the detriment of the conservatism supported by the two previous popes, and thinks this has led to fears of “heresy and schism”. He believes “Francis is risking far too much that’s essential in his quest for new directions”, and that “sometimes Peter misspeaks or goes astray”. But is open debate to be discouraged as subversive? Yet in assessing the possible relationship between Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, Damian Thompson (Cover story, January 15) opines that the former pope certainly believes that “the Keys of Peter were handed to Jorge Bergoglio by the Holy Spirit, in whom the faith of the Pope Emeritus has never wavered”. Stuart Reid (Charterhouse, January 8) may still not know “what to make of Pope Francis”. We all just need to wait and pray. Yours faithfully, Felicity Smart London SW14
