Sir, – Paul Vallely, in his excellent Rite and Reason article (February 4th), suggests that Pope Francis's adherence to the principle of collegiality explains why he "is content to allow Cardinal Mueller to speak so vehemently against admitting divorced and remarried Catholics to Communion while Cardinal Maradiaga, to whom he is far closer, says the opposite".
However, if this is Pope Francis’s strategy to allow his cardinals to “fight it out “ among themselves while he stays in the background, it is but a strategic move on his part as he kicks for time.
Ultimately as Bishop of Rome, as the leader among equals, he will have to personally decide on this issue himself and follow his pastoral conviction for a more inclusive church. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
The Moorings ,
Malahide, Co Dublin.