[Publius]

Pope Francis wanted to be remembered as the Bishop of Rome rather than as the Pope, which is why he chose to be buried in the home church of the Bishop of Rome (St. Mary Major) rather than the home church of the Pope (St. Peter).

This was part of his plan to bring the Eastern Orthodox churches back into the fold by returning affairs to the way they were conducted before the Great Schism of 1054. This year was supposed to be the year of the Second Council of Nicaea which was to be held in Turkey. For two reasons it's not going to happen.

There was supposed to be a Pan Orthodox Council where the various Eastern Orthodox churches would lay out their agenda for Second Nicaea. The Russian Orthodox, the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches, refused to participate, charging that the whole effort was a globalist plot. The Pan Orthodox Council never happened.

At first Turkey was on board with the council, but Erdogan is trying to revive the Ottoman Empire, which strains the political atmosphere in Turkey. It was felt that holding Second Nicaea in Turkey could be dangerous for the attendees.

It was a bold effort on Bergoglio's part, but it was doomed to failure.

[Bigg Red]

Thank you for that information. I learn so much from your posts.

Forgive me, though, for doubting that Bergoglio’s motives were benign.

[Melian]

ThankQ for clarifying that.