'ROME — An unnamed cardinal, after consulting a number of other prelates and summarizing their reflections, has published a sharp critique of the Francis pontificate and a proposal for moving forward.

The 1400-word text, published this week by the Catholic news site The Daily Compass under the title “A profile of the next Pope,” expresses deep concern over the fallout from the nearly 11-year pontificate of Pope Francis.

Among the pontiff’s shortcomings are “an autocratic, at times seemingly vindictive, style of governance; a carelessness in matters of law; an intolerance for even respectful disagreement; and – most seriously – a pattern of ambiguity in matters of faith and morals causing confusion among the faithful,” the text asserts.

The cardinals also underscore “the current pontificate’s heavy dependence on the Society of Jesus [Jesuits], the recent problematic work by the DDF’s [Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith] Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, and the emergence of a small oligarchy of confidants with excessive influence within the Vatican.”

Because of this ongoing confusion, the Catholic Church today is “more fractured than at any time in her recent history,” the cardinals observe.

According to his critics, the reputation for vindictiveness stems from Francis’ pattern of harsh treatment of conservatives.

As the Catholic Herald stated Friday, “Francis has moved swiftly and ruthlessly against priests, bishops and cardinals opposed to his reforms or critical of his style of governance while protecting allies even when they have [been] accused of heinous crimes of sexual abuse and rape.”