A self limiting God is one of the cornerstones of liberal theology.
Henry Nelson Weiman, in the 50’s, began promulgating this notion in an effort to explain away the “problem” of evil. To wit, “How can an omnipotent God allow evil to reign in the world?” His position was that God, in His omniscience, limited His control of mankind in order to ensure human freedom.
This, of course, flew in the face of Calvin who had no truck with freedom, determining that everything is predetermined, or, more to the point, foreordained. By limiting God Weiman could allow God to keep His hands clean while grieving over evil.
Much of the theological claptrap in the latter part of the 20th century devolved from this particular brand of nonsense. God is not divine but is a natural process, like gravity. Hence, we have the Pope carrying on about an explicitly Unitarian and non Christian view of God.
It is interesting to note that Boston University, where Weiman taught, was a Methodist seminary which theology department was headed by a Unitarian, in the 50’s.
The word he used in Italian? "Demiurgo." And what is a "demiurge"? It is a fallen entity in Gnoistic mythology who crafts (evil) things out of primal materials.
Here's the quote:
"God is not a demiurge or a magician, but the Creator who gives being to all entities.”
I don't have a problem with that.
I do have a problem with the media who for some reason substituted "divine being" for "demiurge."
If they had mangled a quote of mine like that, I'd be after them with a hatchet... or a lawsuit.