Pope Francis to evict conservative American cardinal from Vatican

A Vatican official on Tuesday told media outlets that the pope will revoke retired Cardinal Raymond Burke’s right to a subsidized Vatican apartment and salary. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Francis last week told heads of the Vatican that Burke had been a source of “disunity” within the Catholic church. A Vatican spokesman declined to confirm or deny the report, and Burke’s secretary on Tuesday told the Associated Press that Burke had not been notified of the action. Earlier this month, Francis fired conservative Texas bishop Joseph Strickland following a church investigation into the governance of his diocese. Strickland criticized efforts to push the church toward so-called progressive positions on marriage and gender.

Why might Francis want to punish Burke? The 75-year-old retired cardinal has frequently criticized Francis on social and theological issues. Burke in 2019 joined other cardinals and bishops to publish a “declaration of truths,” saying the Catholic church has drifted from core teachings on marriage, gender, and homosexuality.

Dig deeper: Read Hunter Baker’s column in WORLD Opinions about Pope Francis’ recent moves on same-sex marriage.