Update: How you can help Pope Francis convert to Catholicism

This latest round of scandals adds to a growing list of controversies that have raised serious concerns among traditional Catholics.

Gone are the days when the phrase “Is the Pope Catholic?” could be used as an unassailable rhetorical question.

The reasons for this are, sadly, well-known to faithful Catholics. Pope Francis’s papacy has been marked by a series of controversies involving heterodoxy, heresy, and ambiguity, leaving many traditional Catholics scandalized. For some, the question of whether he is even a valid pope has become a topic of serious debate.

Just this past week numerous controversies have once again been reported.

First up, and unsurprisingly, Pope Francis released a formal note on 25 November requesting that the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality be accepted as part of his Magisterium. Radical Fidelity previously explained how this would be part of an attempt to fundamentally change the Church's operational structure, destroy the hierarchy's functioning, and replace it with synodality. In short, an attempt to democratise truth and to put the Church’s seat of authority in the hands of the laity.

Then an article appeared on 27 November which reported that during an audience, the Holy Father emphasised the importance of the Church embracing cohabiting couples. No word was mentioned of confession or repentance. “The Church must welcome everyone, everyone, do not forget this word,” said the Pope. (Yes, everyone EXCEPT Traditional Orthodox Catholics who want to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM).)

Finally, it was reported on 28 November that in response to a grandmother who expressed her concerns about her children’s failure to baptise her grandchildren, Pope Francis told her in a letter to “accompany” them but not to insist on their baptism. (Baptism is of course one of the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church that was instituted by no other than Jesus Christ Himself. Yes, the Pope encouraged her not to insist on this crucial Sacrament, thus endangering the souls of these little ones.)

This latest round of scandals adds to a growing list of controversies that have raised serious concerns among traditional Catholics. These incidents are not isolated but fit into a broader pattern of ambiguity and departure from established Church doctrine that has characterized his papacy since its beginning.

Pope Francis has previously been accused of sowing confusion on critical doctrinal matters, often under the guise of pastoral flexibility. These new developments amplify earlier controversies that have similarly been viewed as undermining Catholic teaching:

· "All Religions Are Paths to God" statement in Singapore

In September 2024, Pope Francis stated that all religions are paths to God. While he might argue that this reflected a desire to promote interfaith dialogue and mutual respect, it contradicts the Catholic doctrine of exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus unequivocally declares, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This foundational belief underpins the Church’s evangelistic mission. By suggesting that all religions lead to God, Pope Francis has diminished the centrality of Christ’s redemptive work and implicitly denies the necessity of the Catholic faith for salvation, which has long been a cornerstone of Catholic teaching. This amounts to a heretical statement. Period.

· Amoris Laetitia (2016): Communion for the divorced and remarried

In his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis seemed to have opened the door to allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion in certain cases. This interpretation contradicted longstanding Church teaching, which holds that individuals in objectively sinful situations should first seek reconciliation through repentance and annulment. The ambiguity of the document led to a global debate, with some bishops’ conferences adopting conflicting practices.

· The Abu Dhabi Document (2019): "Diversity of religions willed by God"

In a joint declaration with a Muslim leader, Pope Francis signed a statement claiming that the diversity of religions is "willed by God." Critics argued that this phrasing could be interpreted as denying the Church’s mission to evangelize, as it suggests that religions that contradict Catholic doctrine are divinely sanctioned. While the Vatican later clarified that this statement referred to God’s permissive will, the damage to doctrinal clarity was significant.

· Pachamama Controversy (2019)

During the Amazon Synod, statues of Pachamama, a figure associated with indigenous religious practices, were used in ceremonies in the Vatican. Traditional Catholics viewed this as an act of idolatry, contrary to the First Commandment. The incident raised serious questions about the Pope’s commitment to preserving the purity of Catholic worship.

· Questioning of eternal punishment (2021)

In an interview, Pope Francis was quoted as downplaying the concept of hell, suggesting that unrepentant souls simply "disappear." While the Vatican later attempted to walk back these remarks, they left many faithful Catholics alarmed by what seemed to be a denial of fundamental eschatological teachings.

· Support for Civil Unions (2020)

In a documentary, Pope Francis expressed support for civil unions for same-sex couples, contradicting the Church’s teaching that marriage is exclusively between a man and a woman and that civil unions could imply moral approval of relationships contrary to Catholic teaching.

The 2024 controversies add to a litany of prior issues that together paint a picture of a papacy marked by doctrinal confusion and a departure from traditional Catholic teaching. While Pope Francis often frames his actions as expressions of mercy and inclusivity, they frequently create ambiguity about the faith’s core tenets. For many Catholics, these ongoing deviations signify a crisis in the Church’s leadership, challenging the unity and consistency of its witness to the Gospel in an increasingly secular world.

This brings us to how you, dear reader, can assist in a desperate attempt to get Pope Francis to return to the Catholic Faith.

On 1 December the International Director of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima, Christopher P. Wendt, posted the following announcement on the Apostolate’s Facebook page:

“Ave Maria!

I am writing to extend a heartfelt invitation for you to participate in a special and meaningful spiritual initiative. It will be a 9-Day Novena for the Conversion of Pope Francis, which will take place from December 8th to December 17th, 2024, the day of Our Holy Father's birthday.

We are doing this out of the utmost respect and concern for our dear Holy Father. As Catholics, we must ardently pray for him and his eternal soul before it is too late.

Imagine what it would mean for the Church if Pope Francis were to return to the True Faith, retracting any dubious or heretical statements and addressing those disciplinary actions or appointments that have caused harm.

As Jesus prayed for the first Pope, St. Peter, in Luke 22:32, so too must we pray for the conversion of Pope Francis. Out of respect and love for his eternal soul.

We're praying that he will confirm all of us—his sheep, the bishops, priests, deacons, and lay faithful—in the True Faith handed down to us from the Apostles.

This Faith, ever ancient and ever new, is unchanging, and it is the Faith we long to see restored in the Church.

Each day, we will pray together, starting with an optional Rosary, followed by the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a specific prayer for the conversion of Pope Francis written for this occasion. Additionally, I encourage acts of penance and reparation as we implore God’s mercy.

It will be a united effort led by various lay organizations, and the prayers will be broadcast live through our Facebook page and the website.

Together, with trust in Jesus and Mary, we will see the triumph of Her Immaculate Heart!

Please email us if you'd like to join or have any questions!

May the Reign of Mary Come!

In the Hearts of Jesus and Mary”.

The prayer specifically written for the Novena is as follow:

“O Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Good Shepherd! With your almighty hand you guide the Church Militant on earth through the storms of each age. Therefore, the boat of the Church remains unsinkable in the unheard crisis, which in our day obfuscates the honor of the Holy See and the life of the entire Church.

O Lord, grant Pope Francis the grace neither to fear the powerful of this world nor to compromise with the spirit of the age. Illuminate Pope Francis that he may preserve, strengthen, and defend the Catholic Faith unto the shedding of his blood, and preserve, protect, and hand on the venerable liturgy of the Roman Church.

O Lord, enkindle in Pope Francis the zeal of the Apostles, so that he may proclaim to the whole world: “Salvation is found in no other than in Jesus Christ. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which they should be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).

O Lord, grant Pope Francis the grace that he may make the Holy See shine once more as the Cathedra of Truth for the whole world.

Hear us, O Lord, and through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church, and of all Holy Popes, grant Pope Francis the grace that he may be converted and strengthen his brethren in the faith, as you promised to the Apostle Peter (Luke 22:32).

O Lord, let thy mercy come upon Pope Francis! O Lord, let Thy mercy come be upon Thy whole Church! In Thee we place our hope, let us not be confounded forever.

Amen.”

(The Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima is an Apostolate dedicated to bringing about the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary “as soon as possible and are dedicated to spending the rest of their lives living out the call of Our Lady of Fatima and in doing penance for poor sinners and reparation to Her Immaculate Heart”.

It was started in 2020 by Wendt and Dr. Michael Sirilla, Professor of Dogmatic and Systematic Theology at Franciscan University, and it was approved by His Excellency Bishop Athanasius Schneider on July 26, 2020).

Radical Fidelity wants to encourage its subscribers to participate in this noble effort. With this aim in view, we also ask that you share this article with as many of your Catholic friends and family as possible and encourage them to pray the Novena.

Ave Christus Rex!

Recognise and Resist!

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