Pope Leo XIV Is Cleaning House — These 6 Cardinals Face REMOVAL: “It Is With a Heavy Heart That I Must Announce…”
In a stunning and unprecedented move shaking the foundations of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV has begun what insiders are calling the “great purge” — a decisive effort to cleanse the Church’s hierarchy of corruption, secrecy, and political entanglement. At the heart of this historic shift is the potential removal of six senior cardinals, some of whom have held power for decades.
“It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the beginning of a necessary process,” Pope Leo XIV declared from the Apostolic Palace this morning, addressing the world in a solemn televised message. “The integrity of the Church must be restored — not only in word, but in action.”
While the Vatican has not yet officially released the names of the six cardinals under scrutiny, multiple sources inside the Curia suggest the list includes high-profile figures long rumored to be at the center of internal scandals involving financial mismanagement, abuse cover-ups, and political interference in Church doctrine.
The Pope’s announcement follows months of quiet investigation led by a special internal commission, one Leo XIV himself established shortly after his election. Described as fiercely independent and morally uncompromising, the new pontiff has made clear his intention to root out corruption “no matter how high it reaches.”
Insiders say the Pope has been meeting privately with whistleblowers, reviewing confidential dossiers passed on from previous papacies, and consulting a tight circle of trusted reformers — many of whom come from outside the traditional Vatican power structure.
“This is not revenge. This is repentance,” Leo XIV said. “We cannot ask the world to trust us if we do not first prove ourselves worthy of that trust.”
Among those rumored to be facing removal:
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A cardinal from North America allegedly tied to decades-old abuse cover-up allegations.
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A senior Vatican financial official accused of redirecting Church funds to offshore accounts.
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A European cardinal who reportedly tried to suppress internal reports on clerical misconduct.
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Two members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith known for resisting reform measures around transparency.
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A Latin American cardinal facing allegations of coercion and political manipulation.
The response within the Church has been divided. Reform-minded clergy and lay leaders are praising Pope Leo XIV’s courage, calling it a long-overdue reckoning. “This is the moment many of us have prayed for,” said one Jesuit priest based in Milan. “We finally have a pope willing to challenge the old system.”