How Pope Francis lost Italy Emily Rolwes Thursday, July 4, 2019 “The church hierarchy wrongly assumed that its befuddled sheep would automatically find their political homes among moderates. Instead, many of them have been attracted by a strongman who promised to defend the values that Francis’ church today hardly mentions.” © 2023 The Catholic Thing. All rights reserved. For reprint rights, write to: [email protected] The Catholic Thing is a forum for intelligent Catholic commentary. Opinions expressed by writers are solely their own.
Copyright 2023 The Catholic Thing. All Rights Reserved. 
How Pope Francis lost Italy
Emily Rolwes
Thursday, July 4, 2019
“The church hierarchy wrongly assumed that its befuddled sheep would automatically find their political homes among moderates. Instead, many of them have been attracted by a strongman who promised to defend the values that Francis’ church today hardly mentions.”