First, he sets Francis as the ideological adversary of Trump and other emergent right wing strongmen. In other words, he heralds him as the champion of a specific new world order, oppositional to the emergent global populism. This is a HUGE mistake! Catholicism is NOT a political party or ideology. Around the Eucharistic table we gather with many with opposing political views as we celebrate, nevertheless, our unity in Christ as well as our freedom to argue and fight vigorously over all kinds of issues. It is a huge mistake, made often, for the Church to identify with an particular party or ideology. About 50% of American Catholics vote Trump. This pattern may prevail across the globe. There are plenty of good Catholic reasons for this. But in this piece Tobin polarizes the Church by alienating the 50% who disagree with Francis and himself. Deeply disturbing! "Diabolical" in the etymological meaning: that which tears us apart.
Related to this is his enthusiasm about "a pope from the Southern Hemisphere." Now what is the meaning, culturally or theologically or philosophically, of being from the Southern Hemisphere. Tobin thinks it is important. Southern hemisphere includes much of South America, some of Africa, many Pacific islands, Australia and New Zealand. Is there an inner meaning, a form here? I don't see it. As Latin American, he would seem to have more in common with Central America (mixture of Spanish, native American and African) than with New Zealand or South Africa. North/South hemisphere as a cultural or spiritual category is about as meaningful as white/black or fat/skinny.
What is significant about his Argentinian background? Several things: He has the common South American aversion to North American capitalism. He prefers a strong Peronesque central government. He espouses a "mysticism of the poor and the people" that is not Marxism but a kind of romanticism, appealing in many ways. Generally however, his political views (like those of the cosmopolitan, white-more-than-black Barack Obama) line up perfectly with liberal elites of North America and Europe: urgency about global warming, pro-immigration, anti-death penalty. Add to this his undisguised disgust for many popular traditions of prayer (Latin mass, multiplication of rosaries, "clericalism") and we have a paradox: Selfconsciously "the people's Pope," he is in politics and piety stridently, even scandolously anti-populist.
Last, and worst, he waxes eloquently about synodality. The German experiment with synodality threatens to split the Church with the worst schism since the Reformation and Cardinal Tobin wistfully, dreamily fantasizes about the "journey of synodality." The unity of the Church is essential to its identity, destiny and splendor. Tobin and Francis would destoy all this for their Siddartha fantasy. The irresponsibility, the recklessness, the disconnect with our Catholic legacy and indeed with reality is breathtaking! Heartbreaking! You have to wonder: what are they smoking? Are they back in the 1968 Age of Aquarius?
Long game indeed!
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