The title of the document sounds very ordinary – An Appeal for the Church and the world to Catholics and all people of goodwill.
But its contents have become ammunition for Vatican hardliners opposed to Pope Francis.
The online manifesto asks Catholics to resume public worship, which has been suspended since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Francis said churches needed to follow the medical advice of their governments.
The first signatory to the manifesto is Italian Archbishop and former Vatican ambassador Carlo Maria Vigano.
Massimo Faggioli of Villanova University in Philadelphia writes for the Catholic magazine Commonweal. He’s been reading between the lines.
Presenter: Andrew West
Producer: Muditha Dias
Sound Engineer: Tim Jenkins/Emrys Cronin
Editor: Joe Gelonesi
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