France: Bishop Rey’s Forced Resignation, as Seen From Italy

However, Bishop Rey could not be suspected of exclusive traditionalism, as the religious columnist of Le Figaro reminds us: “In a quarter of a century, Bishop Rey made his diocese as open to traditionalists as to charismatics; [it was] a laboratory of evangelization.”

To Jean-Marie Guénois, who asked him what he was being criticized for, Bishop Rey replied that "the grievances target the overly broad reception of groups, priests, vocations, communities, with a lack of prudence particularly in the reception of the so-called tradi world".

He also mentioned "dysfunctions in the economic and financial management of the diocese." But, although he "responded to these criticisms point by point, in a factual and documented manner, on the basis of expertise and audits," Bishop Rey's resignation was desired and accepted.

On the Messaggero of January 10, 2025, the journalist Franca Giansoldati, who wrote about the Maciel affair (The Devil in the Vatican, Albin Michel, 2015) and who recently interviewed Cardinal Gerhard Müller (In All Good Faith, Artège, 2023), analyzes this forced resignation, as seen from Italy:

"This time, no sexual scandals, no pedophilia, and not even the shadow of corruption. What seems to have determined the resounding ouster of a French bishop is only his flagrant predisposition to welcome, on the territory of his diocese of Fréjus-Toulon, too many conservatives and priests in love with the Latin Mass. A tendency that Pope Bergoglio no longer tolerates, like many cardinals of the curia who have looked into this matter.”

"The resignation requested and obtained a few days ago has raised a wave of indignation among many Catholics, and the news continues to fuel controversy remotely, on social media. The fact is that the war against traditionalists (particularly harsh in France) under this pontificate seems to pull the rug from under the feet of the elements of resistance and internal opposition to reforms, and the creation of a less rigid, more open and modern Church.”

“The sense of injustice in this affair is paradoxical, because it is precisely under the leadership of this prelate that this diocese has been enormously enriched with seminarians and faithful, at a time in history when churches are deserted and young people are moving away.”

"For its part, the Conference of Bishops of France wished, in a press release, ‘a beautiful and new pastoral stage for the diocese of Fréjus-Toulon and its faithful.’ It is as if to say that a page is being turned. The diocese had recently been visited by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille, a trusted cardinal of the Sovereign Pontiff, who had analyzed all the diocesan sectors, all the documentation and archives, collecting testimonies.” 

“The conclusions Aveline submitted to the Pope clearly must not have been very favorable to the bishop, since he was dismissed from his functions shortly afterwards. The case of the diocese of Toulon, long in Rome’s sights because of its high concentration of conservatives, is only the latest act in a long underground war aimed at controlling and removing all responsibility from the minority in favor of celebrating the Latin Mass.”