You're right about the stench of fascism hanging around Civilta' Cattolica.  

I think that Papa Francesco has used Civilta' Cattolica several times in the past to get his ideas and views in front of the public without the filters of the Vatican curia.  Kinda like Trump Twitting to go around the media elites. 

And, if you are a European with a memory of the last century, Trump is a very disturbing reminder of a very dark time for the Church, and Europe.