A plea to Pope Leo to reaffirm the truth about the family

Ten years ago, during the period of great disorientation straddling the two synods dedicated to the family, various Catholic associations and personalities (including cardinals and bishops) addressed a supplication to Pope Francis, expressing their 'concerns and hopes for the future of the family'. They asked the Pope for 'a clarifying word' in the face of growing confusion among the faithful and attempts within the Church itself to pander to ideological forces attacking the family as the fundamental unit of society. Today, in the wake of the previous one, a new filial and apprehensive supplication is addressed to Leo XIV, 'in light of his recent favourable demonstrations in defence of the family, and of the coherence that Catholics must maintain in public life by upholding the principles of the faith'. However, since then, the Pope has changed and the general situation has worsened, explains Julio Loredo, president of the Italian Family and Property Tradition Association. The association promoted the petition together with other associations present in numerous countries, from Canada to the Philippines to the Daily Compass, and looked at what has happened in recent years within the Church. Without truth, there has been no unity, only 'a legacy of confusion and division difficult to heal', with which Leo XIV finds himself 'involuntarily', as the text specifies, having to deal 'in this delicate beginning of his pontificate'.

What is the object of this 'apprehension' expressed in the title of the supplication?
It stems from the fact that powerful forces are pushing to advance the LGBT agenda. We have seen this in recent weeks, for example during the jubilee of the association La Tenda di Gionata [see photo by LaPresse]. We are therefore very concerned because these powerful forces, as one Vaticanist said, want to force the Pope's hand. We therefore make a filial plea so that the Holy Father knows that there are faithful people who understand the difficulties he has inherited from past years. These people pray for him, asking Our Lady of Good Counsel to give him strength. They also ask him to clarify the situation and set limits on how far these realities can advance, as anything beyond this would touch on Catholic moral doctrine, which cannot be changed.
So far, there has been an attitude of stalling. This can be understood. Events planned by the previous pontificate were not cancelled by Leo, in the name of unity within the Church, although he did not explicitly support them. However, one must wonder whether procrastination is sufficient when the truth of Christ's message is at stake.
We therefore ask for clarification, as children of the Church.

This initiative echoes the plea made ten years ago to Pope Francis regarding the future of the family. What happened then?
It was a large-scale international initiative, gathering more than 800,000 signatures, including 202 cardinals and bishops. On that occasion, too, a clarifying word was requested from Pope Francis regarding the future of the family. The second Synod on the Family was underway, and the same issues that push for the LGBT agenda today were already present. However, Pope Francis did not provide any clear guidance on moral doctrine; in fact, the confusion only increased. Unfortunately, the situation has deteriorated further since then. So let us take advantage of the new pontificate and the new approach shown by Pope Leo to make another request, precisely ten years after that plea of filial devotion.

What differences have emerged at the beginning of Pope Leo's XIV pontificate?
There have been positive signs in both appearance and substance. Therefore, to simply compare him to Pope Francis is not objectively true. Ever since his first appearance on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, the differences have been clear to see. More recently, he authorised the traditional Mass at St Peter's during the Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage in October. Not to mention his address to French politicians where he challenged secularism. Objective changes have occurred.
However, the negative forces that were present then are still present today, but much worse. It would be helpful if he could clarify matters to overcome the growing confusion among the faithful and prevent the relativisation of Jesus Christ's teachings.

What are your particular requests for Leo XIV?
Specifically, two. First, that the rescript granted by Pope Francis that gave magisterial status to heterodox interpretations of Amoris Laetitia be annulled. Secondly, that the declaration Fiducia Supplicans be cancelled outright. These two gestures alone would send a very clear message.

Some might object that by doing so, you are putting pressure on the Pope.
Asking does not harm anyone or anything, because anyone can ask. As children of God and obedient members of the Church, we would miss the fact that a son cannot ask his father for something, especially if he does so respectfully. It is a supplication, and the supplicant puts themselves in a position of obedience from the outset.