TENSIÓN: Una serie de cardenales han llamado a boicotear al recién elegido Papa estadounidense, León XIV, a quien se culpa de causar fracturas ideológicas dentro de la Iglesia Católica.

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El Papa León XIV, anteriormente conocido como Cardenal Thomas Keller de Boston, fue elegido tras un acalorado cónclave que generó profundas divisiones entre los cardenales votantes. Su ascenso marca la primera vez en los dos milenios de historia de la Iglesia que un Papa proviene de Estados Unidos, un evento celebrado por algunos como un signo de renovación y temido por otros como una ruptura con la tradición sagrada. Lo que debería haber sido un momento de unidad y celebración se ha convertido en uno de los momentos más polarizados que el Vaticano ha vivido en décadas.

From the moment the white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, controversy brewed. While liberal and progressive Catholics welcomed the election as a long-overdue shift toward modernization, conservative voices inside the Church grew alarmed. Pope Leo XIV’s views, seen as reformist and sometimes radical, include vocal support for revisiting the Church’s teachings on LGBTQ+ inclusion, the ordination of women, priestly celibacy, and the financial transparency of the Vatican. These stances, though not formally enacted as policy, have been enough to provoke open dissent from high-ranking Church leaders.

Within 48 hours of his first public address, which focused on “healing the Church’s wounds through compassion, dialogue, and bold truth,” at least 19 cardinals signed an open letter calling for a boycott of the new Pope’s directives. The signatories, hailing from Italy, Poland, Nigeria, and Argentina, accused Leo XIV of “moral relativism” and warned that his views “threaten to unravel the sacred continuity of apostolic tradition.” One of the most vocal critics, Cardinal Giovanni Rizzo of Naples, referred to Leo XIV’s theology as “dangerously Protestant in spirit” and “an affront to centuries of Catholic orthodoxy.”

In response, Pope Leo XIV has called for calm and mutual respect. “Disagreement is not heresy,” he stated during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. “The Church is not a museum of the past, but the living Body of Christ—called to move, to breathe, to grow.” He has insisted that his goal is not to divide, but to bring the Church into dialogue with modern humanity. Still, his refusal to clarify his exact position on topics like same-sex blessings and female deacons has only deepened suspicion among conservatives.

Complicating matters further are the leaks from within the Vatican, revealing that Leo XIV has begun private meetings with theologians and advisors from outside the Roman Curia—including laywomen, scientists, and even non-Catholics—to explore reforms in Church governance. This move, while groundbreaking, has led to accusations of secrecy and undermining tradition. One bishop, speaking anonymously to Italian media, warned that Leo XIV’s style “bears more resemblance to a democratic parliament than to Petrine leadership.”

Among the laity, reactions are equally divided. In Western nations such as Germany, Canada, and the United States, many parishioners see the Pope as a breath of fresh air. “He talks like someone who understands our real lives,” said Maria Delgado, a theology student in Chicago. “He’s not afraid to admit the Church has made mistakes.” In contrast, large groups in Brazil, Kenya, and the Philippines have voiced concern and confusion. Rallies calling for a return to “orthodox Catholicism” have been held in several countries, with priests urging their congregations to pray for “the soul of the Church in this time of trial.”

Observadores externos advierten que la situación podría agravarse. Los analistas señalan que la carta de protesta tiene un tono sin precedentes, y algunos expertos creen que podría sentar las bases para un cisma formal si el diálogo se deteriora aún más. «Estamos presenciando un conflicto cultural global que se desarrolla dentro del Vaticano», declaró la Dra. Helena Moravec, historiadora de la Iglesia con sede en Praga. «No se trata solo de doctrina, sino de identidad, poder y el futuro del catolicismo en un mundo en rápida evolución».

Mientras tanto, el Papa León XIV se mantiene firme. En una entrevista privada publicada por L’Osservatore Romano , citó las palabras del Papa Juan XXIII: «No seamos profetas de fatalidad, sino sembradores de esperanza». Queda por ver si su pontificado será recordado como visionario o divisivo. Por ahora, una cosa es segura: la Iglesia Católica se encuentra en una encrucijada, y sus próximos pasos podrían redefinir su camino para las generaciones venideras.