He said the Gospel story helps us “to reflect how to act in daily life, when there are misunderstandings” and “to understand how the father of lies, the accuser, the devil, acts to destroy the unity of a family, of a people.”

Archbishop Vigano now says Pope Benedict made the sanctions private, perhaps “due to the fact that [Archbishop McCarrick] was already retired, maybe due to the fact that [Pope Benedict] was thinking he was ready to obey.”

A Vatican source said: “The archbishop seems to have declared open war on Pope Francis and the Vatican.”

In the Vatican there are feelings of “bitter disappointment” and “restlessness.”

Francis made a leadership correction while in Argentina; he can still bring the church to a space of humility and wisdom in response to the sexual abuse crisis.

Cardinal Burke was among the first of a small number of bishops to come out in support of Viganò’s denunciation of the pope.