In any other year, August offers us the prospect of a month of relaxation, a period when one might gather one’s breath in preparation for the onset of autumn. But for Catholics, this August is an exception. Far from catching our breath, we are holding it.
Pope Leo has gone on holiday and is about to return after his first 100 days in office. On his return, he will disclose what kind of pope he intends to be, and in particular, what his relationship with his predecessor consists of.
The usual task after a first one hundred days is to assess what has happened, with a view to it acting as a guide to the future. But not this time. Very little has actually happened, and what has taken place has not offered a reliable guide for the future. This has caused many observers a good deal of anxiety.
