Pope Francis has done an about-face on the reform of the radical US nuns’ group:

 The Vatican has announced the unexpected conclusion of a controversial overhaul of the main umbrella group of U.S. nuns — a major shift in tone and treatment of American nuns under the social justice-minded Pope Francis.

The Vatican said Thursday it had accepted a final report on its overhaul of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and declared that the “implementation of the mandate has been accomplished.”

So, the Vatican is declaring victory and going home. No one can possibly believe that the Leadership Conference of Women Religious have been reformed. This means one of two things:

1) that the Pope doesn’t think they need reforming; or

2) that the Pope has made a prudential decision that there’s nothing to be gained by pushing this further, because the radical orders are dying out anyway. Time and mortality shall accomplish the reform.

Either scenario is plausible.