His renunciation did not come as a total surprise given the controversy that erupted in Chile following the priest’s controversial statements after his nomination.

“It is inconceivable to be a pontifical representative and to criticize the pope behind his back, to have a blog or even to unite himself to groups hostile to him, to the [Roman] curia and to the church of Rome,” Pope Francis stated.

The Vatican’s document on “gender theory” is bound to create further conflict, writes David Cloutier of the Catholic University of America, but it exposes the confusion around the differences between nature and choice, and between respect and affirmation.

The text explains that “gender theory” expresses an ideology that “denies the difference and reciprocity in nature of a man and a woman.”

In his homily during Pentecost Mass Sunday in St. Peter's Square, Francis also decried that "the more we use social media, the less social we are becoming."

Cardinal George Pell's lawyers argued for more than five hours that the five verdicts against Pell were "unsafe and unsatisfactory" and should be overturned.