The sending of the letter to His Holiness Pope Francis by four cardinals derives from a deep pastoral concern.
We have noted a grave disorientation and great confusion of many
faithful regarding extremely important matters for the life of the
Church. We have noted that even within the episcopal college there are
contrasting interpretations of Chapter 8 of Amoris Laetitia.
The great Tradition of the Church teaches us that the way out of
situations like this is recourse to the Holy Father, asking the
Apostolic See to resolve those doubts, which are the cause of
disorientation and confusion.
Ours is, therefore, an act of justice and charity.
Of justice: With our initiative, we profess that the Petrine ministry
is the ministry of unity, and that to Peter, to the Pope, belongs the
service of confirming in the faith.
Of charity: We want to help the Pope to prevent divisions and conflicts in the Church, asking him to dispel all ambiguity.
We have also carried out a specific duty. According to the Code of
Canon Law (349) the cardinals, even taken individually, are entrusted
with the task of helping the Pope to care for the universal Church.
The Holy Father has decided not to respond. We have interpreted his
sovereign decision as an invitation to continue the reflection and the
discussion, calmly and with respect.
And so we are informing the entire people of God about our initiative, offering all of the documentation.
We hope that no one will choose to interpret the matter according to a
“progressive/conservative” paradigm. That would be completely off the
mark. We are deeply concerned about the true good of souls, the supreme
law of the Church, and not about promoting any form of politics in the
Church.
We hope that no one will judge us unjustly, as adversaries of the
Holy Father and people devoid of mercy. What we have done and are doing
derives from the deep collegial affection that unites us to the Pope,
and from an impassioned concern for the good of the faithful.
Cardinal Walter Brandmüller
Cardinal Raymond L. Burke
Cardinal Carlo Caffarra
Cardinal Joachim Meisner