In recent decades, lay managers and workers in the church’s network of schools, hospitals, and social-service providers have largely replaced priests and nuns. As a result, since Vatican II, episcopal – and ultimately Vatican – control over church-linked ministries has gradually waned.
方济各的另一个重要挑战是平信徒越来越独立于牧师的权威。最近几十年来，教会的学校、医院和社会服务机构网络中的俗家管理者和员工基本上取代了牧师和修女。结果，自梵蒂冈II以来，教会——最终是梵蒂冈——对与教会有关的部门的控制逐渐削弱。比如，美国天主教慈善会（Catholic Charities USA）的预算大约有一半来自政府。这些机构基本上都不会公开与罗马分裂；但许多在悄然自说自话。