It seems that columnist Martin Scicluna’s idea of the Vatican and the Church is all based on the political model of the secular world. In certain things regarding administration it perhaps is, however, when it comes to announcing the truth of the Gospel, which is one and constant, reality is a bit different.

Preaching the Gospel has got nothing to do with populism, popularity and opinion polls, as the learned correspondent seems to think. He himself affirmed that Joseph Ratzinger “supported communion for divorced…” But, on becoming Benedict XVI, dressed in white and called Pope, he began to behave himself as a “living successor of St Peter”.

Pope Francis will certainly not abandon or thwart the truth of the Gospel, for even he began to call himself Francis and is now dressed in white and has effectively become the “living successor of St Peter” as bishop of Rome.

Scicluna must put his mind at rest that there is no “schism” in the Church. The schism perhaps exists in the mind of those who assume to be enlightened writers on each and every subject and who, one day, tell you one thing and, on the morrow, they give you a contradictory version on the same argument.