The day after the death of Benedict XVI remains filled with tensions within the Vatican world.
If the presence of Benedict XVI dampened the contrasts, now the two souls of the Curia, that of the conservatives and the more liberal and Bergoglian one, right and left, even if Pope Francis has repeatedly said to reject these classifications for the Church, emerge stronger .
"There are tensions between progressives and conservatives", the head of the US bishops Timothy Broglio told Repubblica, he clearly aligned with the more traditionalist wing.
And he thinks that Francesco could resign.
"I saw the difficulty, the fact that he doesn't celebrate, they are all missing elements of normal pastoral work".
But Bergoglio seems to have a completely different idea.
Informing that for years he has delivered his letter of resignation to the Secretariat of State to be used in the event of a physical impediment, he practically closes the question.
At least with respect to future questions from journalists.
But even in practice the answer goes in another direction.
Today's Bulletin contained new appointments, like yesterday's and the past few days.
And in the last few hours he has launched the reform of the diocese of Rome where the role of the Pope, who is the bishop of the city, is even more strengthened.
And even on the liturgy, unlike what Broglio says, the Pope does not give up anything.
Thanks to the wheelchair and physiotherapy he no longer has the pains that in the past had led him to sometimes give up celebrating Mass.
He has long since inaugurated a tried-and-tested formula whereby he presides and gives the homily, leaving the part of the liturgy that takes place standing up to a cardinal.
Furthermore, he is preparing to face a tiring journey to Africa at the end of January and, even if there are still no official announcements, in 2023 he should also go to Hungary and Portugal, and Mongolia is also expected.
In short, it doesn't give the idea of a person about to leave the field.
Among Bergoglio's moves that shuffle the cards was his meeting with the former archbishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen.
Over ninety years old, with a life of struggle against the Chinese regime for which in the past he also lived in prison, the now over ninety-year-old cardinal is among the harshest critics of Francis.
There is the question of the agreement with China on the appointment of bishops, but that's not all.
Zen is also part of the ranks of more conservative cardinals.
Arrived with special permission from Hong Kong for the funeral of Benedict XVI yesterday he was received in Santa Marta by Pope Francis.
It was Zen himself, who in the past had denounced not having had an audience with the Pope, who today spoke of a "cordial and friendly" meeting.
On the other hand, the one who could really be about to pack his bags is Ratzinger's secretary, mgr.
Georg Gaenswein.
For him there is talk of a possible role in some Nunciature in Latin America or Asia;
or a teaching position in a Catholic university abroad.
It is more difficult for him to return to Germany where the episcopate perhaps would not welcome him with open arms.
But above all, Bergoglio will have to take account of this conservative wing of the Church as suggested by the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, card.
Gerhard Mueller.
He defines, with La Stampa, an "imprudence" on the part of Francis to have limited himself to the Latin mass.
He also criticizes the Synod, the planetary consultation process wanted by Francis on all topics, from the role of the laity to the female priesthood,
from gay couples to the parish system.
It was Mueller himself who commented to the American press: "Are we a party or an NGO that can change its mind on the basis of popular consultation?".
