It began with Pio Nono and Vatican I. At the same time as the papacy was being stripped of its secular kingdom, the papacy embarked on a new epoch with the Popes become familiar figures to the average Catholic, and emphasizing their championing of orthodoxy. The new system worked fairly well until Vatican II, and has been in collapse since then, with a revival under Pope John Paul II. The lasting achievement of Pope Francis may be a de-emphasis of the role of the Pope in the life of the Church, at least for the next few decades.
Yes, Roman centralization became manic after Vatican I.
Alas, that the current pontiff’s brand of “synodality” is just string-pulling centralism in drag.
?? :” The lasting achievement of Pope Francis may be a de-emphasis of the role of the Pope in the life of the Church, at least for the next few decades.“
I must be misunderstanding you —- it seems to me his pontificate points out the importance of the pope.
It seems akin to : a tornado descended on a village, resulting in death, loss, chaos, etc. . so we learn the tornadoes are not important…