Pope Francis dismissed the entire membership of the Pontifical Academy for Life and recreated the organization as an academic body not requiring any commitment to faith or moral stances.

The Pope met secretly with Matthew Festing, Grand Master of the Order of Malta and pressured him for his resignation, which Festing gave. This took place after the Order removed its Grand Chancellor, Albrecht von Boeselager, for denying knowledge that a program funded by the Order had distributed condoms.

Former diplomat Abp. Carlo Maria Viganò said that he warned Pope Francis of sexual misconduct allegations against Cdl. McCarrick, but that Francis did nothing to investigate; instead he brought McCarrick out of the retirement Pope Benedict had tried to impose on him. Viganò called on the pope to resign.