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This week\u2019s Holy Smoke podcast discusses two looming disasters for Pope Francis.\xa0\n
\n\nThe first is the \u2018Amazon Synod\u2019 in October, at which the world\u2019s bishops will discuss a bizarre plan to ordain Amazon \u2018village elders\u2019 as priests. The framework for the synod has already been published; Damian's guest Dr Ed Condon uses the word \u2018Orwellian\u2019 to describe the language it employs.\xa0\n
\n\nThe second threat to Francis is more personal. When he became pope he lost no time making his friend Gustavo Zanchetta a bishop in Argentina. Bad move. Within a short time Zanchetta was facing allegations of sexual and financial impropriety. The Pope was informed of these allegations (and if you google them you\u2019ll discover that they were pretty lurid).\xa0\n
\n\nHis response? He plucked Zanchetta out of his diocese and created a plum job for him in Rome... managing the Vatican\u2019s finances. Another bad move, now that Zanchetta, back in Argentina, is facing charges of molesting seminarians and other allegations of misusing money.\xa0\n
\n\nA mood of despair has set in at the Vatican. You\u2019ll understand why if you listen to the podcast.\xa0
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\nPresented by Damian Thompson.