Major Controversies Surrounding Pope Francis: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Pope Francis—discover key moments of controversy.

Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. Notably, he is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born outside of Europe since the 8th century. His papacy has focused on themes of mercy, social justice, environmental stewardship, and interreligious dialogue, often emphasizing outreach to marginalized communities and advocating for global solutions to poverty and inequality.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1976: Allegations regarding kidnapping of Jesuit priests

In 1976, Bergoglio faced allegations regarding the Argentine Navy's kidnapping of two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics, during Argentina's Dirty War. He feared for their safety and attempted to change their work prior to their arrest.

1976: Early Image of the Military Junta

In early 1976, the military junta still had a good image among society, and that the scale of the political repression was not known until much later. This could explain why Bergoglio would have had little reason to suspect that the detention of Yorio and Jalics could end in their deaths.

1980: Nobel Peace Prize laureate's statement on Bergoglio's role during the dictatorship

In 1980, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, commented on Bergoglio's role during the Dirty War, stating that while Bergoglio may not have had the courage of other priests, he never collaborated with the dictatorship.

1992: Asked not to live in Jesuit residences

In 1992, Jesuit authorities asked Bergoglio not to live in Jesuit residences due to tensions and concerns over his views.

1999: Yorio's accusations against Bergoglio

In a 1999 interview, Yorio accused Bergoglio of effectively handing him and Franz Jalics over to the death squads by declining to tell the authorities that he endorsed their work. Yorio stated that he believed Bergoglio did nothing to free them.

2000: Appointment of McCarrick as Archbishop

In 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed Theodore McCarrick as archbishop, despite multiple reports of sexual abuse allegations against him. The 2000 appointment was later found to be a significant error in judgment.

2005: Criminal complaint filed against Bergoglio

In 2005, Myriam Bregman, a human rights lawyer, filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, accusing him of involvement in the 1976 kidnapping of two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics. The complaint was later dismissed.

2008: Called for national reconciliation during disturbances

In 2008, Bergoglio called for national reconciliation during disturbances in Argentina's agricultural regions, which the government interpreted as support for anti-government demonstrators.

2010: Cardinal Bergoglio Commissioned a Study

In 2010 then-Cardinal Bergoglio commissioned a study which concluded that Father Julio César Grassi, a priest convicted of child sexual abuse, was innocent, that his victims were lying, and that the case against him never should have gone to trial.

2010: Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage in Argentina

While serving as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio led public opposition to the parliamentary bill on legalizing same-sex marriage in Argentina, which was eventually approved by the Argentine Senate in 2010. The church source called the letter a strategic error that contributed to the bill's success. The opposition in 2010 was a notable stance before his papacy.

2012: Defrocking of Mauro Inzoli

In 2012 Mauro Inzoli, an Italian priest accused of child sexual abuse, was defrocked by Francis's predecessor Benedict.

2012: Vatican opinion on the sisters' group

In 2012 the Vatican formed the opinion that the sisters' group had some feminist influences, focused too much on ending social and economic injustice and not enough on stopping abortion, and permitted speakers who questioned church doctrine.

2013: Reaffirmed programme to reform the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious

In 2013, Francis initially reaffirmed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's programme to reform the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious which had been initiated under Pope Benedict XVI.

2013: Public Perception as Liberal

In 2013, Pope Francis's comments in his first long interview were described as liberal and fundamentally anti-conservative.

2014: Reversal of Defrocking Decision for Mauro Inzoli

In 2014, Pope Francis reversed the defrocking of Mauro Inzoli, an Italian priest accused of child sexual abuse, agreeing that Inzoli should remain a priest but be removed from public ministry and ordered to retire to "a life of prayer and humble discretion".

2014: Vatican Criticism of Media Reports

In 2014, the Vatican criticized some news agencies for reporting on remarks Pope Francis made as suggestive of an opening toward acceptance of same-sex marriage or civil unions, stating the pope's remarks had been taken out of context.

April 2015: Investigation brought to a close

In April 2015 the investigation into the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious was brought to a close.

September 2015: Meeting with Kim Davis

In September 2015, Pope Francis met with Kim Davis, a county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples. The September 2015 meeting drew criticism due to Davis's stance on same-sex marriage.

2015: Criticism After Cuba Visit

After Pope Francis's visit to Cuba in 2015, Catholic Yale historian Carlos Eire accused Francis of having a "preferential option for the oppressors" in Cuba. The criticism in 2015 highlighted differing views on his approach to political issues.

2015: Criticism for supporting Juan Barros

In 2015, Pope Francis faced criticism for his support of Chilean bishop Juan Barros, who was accused of covering up sexual abuse cases within the Catholic Church in Chile. The accusations included crimes against minors.

2016: Inzoli Convicted of Sexually Abusing Children

In 2016, Mauro Inzoli was convicted of sexually abusing children in Italian civil court and sentenced to prison.

2016: Creation of Study Commission on Women's Diaconate

In 2016, Pope Francis initiated dialogue on the possibility of deaconesses by creating a Study Commission on the Women's Diaconate to research the role of female deacons in early Christianity.

2016: Contrast with Donald Trump

Since 2016, Pope Francis has been contrasted with U.S. president Donald Trump. During the 2016 United States presidential election, Francis said of Trump, "A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian." The 2016 comparison highlighted contrasting ideologies.

2016: Increased Criticism from Theological Conservatives

Since 2016, Pope Francis has faced intensified criticism from theological conservatives. Some have attributed the disagreement to his emphasis on pastoral discernment over theoretical principles. The 2016 criticism marked a notable shift in conservative reaction.

January 2017: Resignation of Matthew Festing

In January 2017, Pope Francis demanded the resignation of Matthew Festing, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, following Festing's dismissal of Baron Albrecht von Boeselager. This led to Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto's appointment as leader in May 2017.

March 2017: Julio César Grassi Conviction Upheld

In March 2017, the Supreme Court of Argentina upheld the conviction and prison sentence against Father Julio César Grassi, a priest convicted of child sexual abuse. Previously, in 2010 then-Cardinal Bergoglio commissioned a study which concluded that Father Julio César Grassi, a priest convicted of child sexual abuse, was innocent, that his victims were lying, and that the case against him never should have gone to trial.

July 2017: "Filial Correction" of Francis

In July 2017, a group of conservative clergy, academics, and laymen signed a document labeled as a "Filial Correction" of Pope Francis, criticizing him for allegedly promoting seven heretical propositions through various words, actions, and omissions during his pontificate.

September 2017: Francis Admits Mishandling Inzoli Case

In September 2017, Pope Francis admitted that he mishandled the Mauro Inzoli case, saying that as a new pope, "I did not understand these things well and chose the more benevolent of the two sentences but after two years the priest had a relapse. I learned from this."

October 2017: Position on Catalan Independence Referendum

Following the 2017 Catalan independence referendum on 1 October 2017, Pope Francis communicated that the Vatican would not recognise secessionist or self-determination movements that were not the result of decolonisation.

2017: Vatican investigation into McCarrick

In 2017, after renewed allegations against Theodore McCarrick, Pope Francis commissioned a Vatican investigation. The investigation found that McCarrick had sexually molested both adults and minors. The 2017 investigation was key in understanding the extent of McCarrick's abuse.

July 2018: McCarrick's Resignation from College of Cardinals

In July 2018, Theodore McCarrick resigned from the College of Cardinals following allegations of sexual misconduct. McCarrick's resignation from the College of Cardinals was a significant step in holding him accountable.

August 2018: Suggestion of Psychiatric Treatment for Gay Children

In August 2018, Pope Francis was criticized for suggesting that gay children seek psychiatric treatment. The remarks made in August 2018 drew significant backlash.

October 2018: Review of the Church's Decision-Making on McCarrick

In October 2018, Pope Francis ordered a review of the Church's "institutional knowledge and decision-making" related to Theodore McCarrick, the review aimed to identify failures in the Church's handling of the McCarrick case. The review of the Church's decision-making was an attempt to learn from past mistakes.

2018: Acknowledging Errors and Apology

In 2018, Pope Francis acknowledged that he had made "grave errors" in his judgment regarding Juan Barros. He apologized to the victims of abuse and launched a Vatican investigation, leading to the resignation of three Chilean bishops, including Barros, Gonzalo Duarte, and Cristián Caro. The events of 2018 marked a turning point in the handling of the abuse allegations.

2018: Papal Visit to Ireland

In 2018, Pope Francis visited Ireland, marking the first papal tour of the country since John Paul II's historic trip in 1979. During the visit, he apologized for sexual abuses by clergy in the United States and Ireland.

2018: Controversial agreement with China

In 2018, an agreement between the Vatican and China regarding the appointment of bishops was met with controversy. Critics like Cardinal Joseph Zen argued the 2018 agreement was a step toward the "annihilation" of the Catholic Church in China, accusing the Vatican of undermining its spiritual authority and "selling out" Chinese Catholics by accepting infringements on religious freedom.

2018: Vatican deal with China

In 2018, the Vatican reached an agreement with China, though the details were not specified in this context, it later became a point of contention due to repeated violations by the Chinese government.

January 2019: Letter from Latin American Presidents

In January 2019, 20 former presidents in Latin America wrote a letter to Pope Francis criticizing his Christmas address regarding the ongoing Venezuelan crisis. The January 2019 letter expressed concern over his approach to the crisis.

February 2019: Acknowledgment of Sexual Abuse and Summit on Clergy Sexual Abuse

In February 2019, Pope Francis acknowledged that priests and bishops were sexually abusing religious sisters. He addressed the clergy sex abuse scandal by convening a summit on clergy sexual abuse in February 2019.

February 2019: Summit on Sexual Abuse

In February 2019, Pope Francis convened a summit on sexual abuse, organized by Hans Zollner. Some abuse survivors expressed disappointment that the summit did not result in concrete rules on abuse prevention, responses to abuse, and Church cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

2019: Defrocking of Theodore McCarrick

In 2019, Pope Francis defrocked Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington, due to repeated reports of sexual misconduct against him dating back to the 1980s. The defrocking was a significant step in addressing the allegations.

2019: Study Commission on Women's Diaconate Findings

In 2019, Pope Francis said that the Study Commission on the Women's Diaconate was unable to come to a consensus regarding the role of female deacons in early Christianity.

2019: Criticism over Hong Kong pro-democracy protests

In 2019, during the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, Pope Francis faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance against China's repression. He was quoted as saying, "I would like to go to China. I love China," and he compared the Hong Kong protests to those in Chile and France.

April 2020: Empanelment of New Commission on Women's Diaconate

In April 2020, Pope Francis empaneled a new commission, led by Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, to study the issue of women's diaconate.

November 2020: Release of Vatican's Report on McCarrick's Career

In November 2020, Pope Francis authorized the release of the Vatican's two-year investigation report into Theodore McCarrick's career. The report largely faulted Pope John Paul II for appointing McCarrick and accepting his denials of abuse. The 2020 report highlighted systemic issues within the Church.

November 2020: Francis names Uyghur minority among persecuted peoples

In November 2020, Pope Francis included China's Uyghur minority in a list of the world's persecuted peoples, drawing criticism from Zhao Lijian, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry of China, who stated that Francis's remarks had "no factual basis".

2020: Rupnik's Lenten Meditation for Priests

In 2020, Marko Rupnik preached a Lenten meditation for priests working in the Roman Curia, including Pope Francis and Luis Ladaria Ferrer, raising concerns given the later allegations against him. The 2020 meditation drew criticism in light of subsequent revelations.

July 2021: Issuance of Traditionis custodes

In July 2021, Pope Francis issued the apostolic letter Traditionis custodes, reversing his predecessor Benedict XVI's decision in Summorum Pontificum and imposing new restrictions on the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. This letter returned to the bishops the power to grant or ban the Latin Mass in their dioceses, leading to criticism from prelates and lay faithful. Some critics felt the restrictions were unnecessary and implemented unjustly.

January 2022: Private Meeting with Marko Rupnik

In January 2022, Pope Francis met privately with Marko Rupnik, who was later accused of psychological, spiritual, and sexual abuse. The January 2022 meeting drew scrutiny amidst allegations against Rupnik.

July 2022: Apostolic Journey to Canada and Apology to Indigenous Peoples

In July 2022, Pope Francis made an apostolic journey to Canada, expressing sorrow, indignation, and shame over the Catholic Church's abuse of Canadian Indigenous children in residential schools. He apologized for the church's role in "projects of cultural destruction" and forced assimilation and promised a serious investigation into the history of abuse.

September 2022: Urging Patriarch Kirill not to become an "altar boy" of Putin

At a September 2022 interfaith event in Kazakhstan, Pope Francis urged Patriarch Kirill not to become an "altar boy" of Putin, addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

September 2022: Statements on the War in Ukraine

In September 2022, Pope Francis stated that Ukraine had the right to defend itself, but called for a negotiated settlement and dialogue with all parties, including the aggressor. He also suggested that arms transfers to Ukraine could be morally acceptable under certain conditions. He acknowledged the suffering of the Ukrainian people.

November 2022: Cardinal Ricard's Admission and Francis's Response

In November 2022, French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard admitted to having sexually abused a 14-year-old girl in the 1980s in Marseille. French authorities opened an investigation, and Pope Francis commented that more cases like this shouldn't surprise anyone and condemned sexual abuse. However, Francis did not deprive Ricard of his status as a cardinal.

November 2022: Vatican accuses China of violating agreement

In November 2022, the Vatican publicly accused China of violating their agreement by installing John Peng Weizhao as an auxiliary bishop without the Vatican's approval.

2022: Apology for Church's role in "cultural genocide"

In 2022, Pope Francis apologized for the Catholic Church's role in the "cultural genocide" of the Canadian Indigenous peoples.

April 2023: China installs bishop without Vatican approval

In April 2023, the Chinese government installed Joseph Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai without Vatican approval, further straining relations between the Vatican and China.

October 2023: Condemnation of Hamas attack on Israel

In October 2023, Pope Francis condemned Hamas's attack on Israel.

December 2023: Publication of Fiducia supplicans

In December 2023, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, with Pope Francis's approval, issued Fiducia supplicans. This declaration clarified and reformed the Catholic Church's approach to "irregular relationships", allowing Catholic priests to perform "spontaneous blessings" for same-sex couples and other couples not adhering to traditional Catholic marriage guidelines.

2023: Expulsion of Rupnik from Society of Jesus

In 2023, Marko Rupnik was expelled from the Society of Jesus for disobedience rather than for the abuse allegations. The 2023 expulsion was criticized for not directly addressing the abuse allegations.

2023: Rejection of Women Deacons (Late 2023)

In late 2023, Pope Francis appeared to reject the idea of women deacons in interviews, saying that "holy orders is reserved for men."

January 2024: Rejection of blessings for same-sex couples in Africa

In January 2024, in response to Fiducia supplicans, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu announced that all episcopal conferences in Africa, represented in SECAM, would reject blessings for same-sex couples, citing the potential for scandals. This followed considerable controversy among Catholics, including strong criticism from several conservative commentators and high-profile cardinals regarding the declaration.

November 2024: Suggestion of genocide investigation in Gaza

In November 2024, Pope Francis suggested that the international community should investigate whether Israel's campaign in Gaza is a genocide of the Palestinian people.

2024: Rejection of Women Deacons (2024)

In 2024, Pope Francis rejected the idea of women deacons, stating that "holy orders is reserved for men." He added that women have a charism separate from "the ministerial way" and that "the fact that the woman does not access ministerial life is not a deprivation, because her place is much more important".

January 2025: Establishment of Independent Tribunal

In January 2025, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández confirmed that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) was working to establish an independent tribunal to move forward with judicial proceedings related to the Marko Rupnik case. The January 2025 tribunal was a step towards addressing the controversy.

February 2025: Response to US bishops after mass deportations

In February 2025, following mass deportations and cuts to international aid by the new US administration under President Donald Trump, Pope Francis wrote "an extraordinary and excoriating response to US bishops" who defended the policies. He criticized the use of ordo amoris to justify nativism, citing the parable of the Good Samaritan and emphasizing a fraternity open to all.