Veteran Vatican Reporter Reflects on Pope Francis’ Transformative Legacy – A Century of Papal Shifts

David Willey, a distinguished veteran reporter who spent decades covering the Vatican for the BBC, has reflected on the profound and rapid changes within the Catholic Church under the pontificates of eight successive Popes. In a recent interview, Willey, now over 100 years old, expressed a remarkable sense of perspective, stating he’s ‘already not only four years older than the late Pope Francis, but that my own life now extends through no fewer than eight successive papal reigns.’

Willey’s career spanned the entirety of the 20th and early 21st centuries, allowing him to witness firsthand the dramatic evolution of the Vatican. He began his reporting in the 1950s with Reuters News Agency, a time when accessing official communications involved clandestine operations like retrieving papal speeches from a corrupt Vatican official at an Easter Sunday cafe. These early experiences instilled within him a deep appreciation for the complexities and often shadowy workings of the institution.

The reporter vividly recalled his first visit to the Vatican as a student, describing Pope Pius XII being carried in a sedan chair, flanked by elaborately costumed attendants resembling characters from Verdi’s operas – a stark contrast to the more accessible image of Pope Francis, who now routinely greets crowds on popemobiles or even in small family cars during Jubilee years.

Willey highlighted the shift in Vatican culture under Pope Francis, emphasizing the move away from rigid dogma and towards empathy. He cited Francis’s famous simile about the peacock – “It’s beautiful if you look at it from the front. But if you look at it from behind, you discover the truth… Whoever gives in to such self-absorbed vanity has huge misery hiding inside them” – as an example of the Pope’s willingness to challenge hypocrisy and expose hidden flaws.

The reporter also noted a significant broadening of Vatican leadership beyond traditional European influences. Following decades dominated by Italian and European cardinals, the Church is now increasingly open to candidates from other continents, particularly Asia and Africa. He speculated that the next papal election might see a pope hailing from one of these regions – a historic shift reflecting the global nature of the Catholic Church.

The current Jubilee year, celebrated every 25 years, has brought an influx of pilgrims and tourists back to Rome, allowing Pope Francis to engage directly with the faithful. Willey observed that the Vatican’s communication strategy has also transformed dramatically, embracing modern media like video services and websites. His decades of experience provide invaluable insight into this remarkable transition, offering a unique perspective on the evolving role and image of the Catholic Church in the 21st century.