Francis’ intervention against the rebels.

Some ask why it has come now and admire the Pope’s patience. Others consider the same event a great mistake by Francis with severe consequences.

We are talking about the publicized intervention of Pope Francis against his critic, the American Cardinal Raymond Burke. Few things better illustrate how polarized the Catholic Church is today than this recent news. It all started last Tuesday when several Vaticanists began publishing news that Pope Francis had announced the decision to take away Cardinal Burke’s salary and apartment.

According to these sources, the Pontifex announced this on November 20 at a regular meeting with the heads of the Vatican dicasteries, that is, as it were, his ministers. Versions differ on his exact words when discussing the steps taken against the 75-year-old prelate. And since there is apparently no record of the meeting, we will probably never know what words Francis used to convey the information to his closest colleagues.

What various journalists communicated more or less in unison was the fact that Burke should be stripped of the two privileges attached to his title of cardinal – his salary and apartment. Corriere della Sera commentator Massimo Franco, citing a high-ranking prelate at the meeting above, wrote that the Pope had announced “some measures of an economic nature accompanied by canonical sanctions” against Burke.

However, the term “salary” is not entirely accurate in the case of Burke since the American prelate currently does not hold any job position in the offices of the Roman Curia or the Vatican City State. However, each cardinal receives the so-called piatto cardinality (cardinal contribution). According to the Catholic daily Avvenire data, this amount is around 1,500 euros per month and belongs to each member of the College of Cardinals.

The cardinals working in the Roman Curia also have a salary, so their monthly income can be around 5,000 euros per month.

So, if we are talking about a financial sanction against Burke it should be a withdrawal of “only” the allowance he receives as a member of the College of Cardinals.

In terms of housing, Cardinal Burke has so far lived for free in a 400-square-meter Vatican apartment on Via Rusticucci, a short alley a few steps from St. Peter’s Square, according to available information. Some Italian media continue the topic by publishing unofficial information, according to which Burke received a letter at this address saying that if he wants to continue living in the Vatican apartment, he must start paying commercial rent for it, which is more than 10,000 euros.

Cardinal Burke is in the United States and will be in Rome in mid-December. He responds to media reports by saying that, despite the Pope’s plan, he would continue to live in Rome, even if he would be forced to find another place. “It is my duty as a cardinal to stay in Rome,” he declared. But the fact is that not all retired cardinals live in Rome.