The Francis revolution

Mar 13, 2015

By Fr Thomas Reese, SJ
In only two years after his election as pope on March 13, Pope Francis has changed the face of Catholicism by radically reimaging how it presents itself to the world. From the moment he stepped out on the balcony of St Peter’s, he has presented a different style of being pope and a new set of priorities for the Church.

The change in style was what first caught people’s attention. He rejected the usual papal finery of silks and furs and presented himself to the people of Rome in a simple white cassock. A simple greeting of “Good evening” were his first words, and before he blessed the crowd in St Peter’s Square, he bowed his head and asked them to pray over him.

This was quickly followed by his decisions not to live in the papal apartments but in Casa Santa Marta; to celebrate his first Mass as pope in St Ann’s, the small parish church of Vatican City; and to celebrate Holy Thursday in a prison for young male and female offenders whose feet he washed.

These early gestures of the Pope garnered him worldwide attention, but more importantly, they were symbolic gestures that communicated his vision for the Church. He realizes that the Gospel is preached, not just in words, but in actions. As St Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary.”

The Pope’s early actions were a direct assault on clericalism in the Church by modelling what it means to be a good bishop, a good priest, a good Christian.

The Pope’s frontal attack on clericalism is an attempt to change the culture of the Church. It is a call to conversion in attitudes and practices.

He has been clear that he wants bishops and priests who are close to their people, so close that they are shepherds who smell like their sheep. They should be “gentle, patient and merciful; animated by inner poverty, the freedom of the Lord, and also by outward simplicity and austerity of life,” he said. They should “not have the psychology of ‘Princes’.”

Leadership in the Church is about service, not power and prestige.

Many observers do not recognize how revolutionary is the change in style and culture that Pope Francis is calling for.

The Pope has also called for open discussion in the Church. He is not afraid of arguments and disagreements. “Open and fraternal debate makes theological and pastoral thought grow. That doesn’t frighten me. What’s more, I look for it,” he said.

Everything we feel must be said with parrhesia (boldness) — the boldness with which St Paul spoke to St Peter at the council of Jerusalem in arguing against making the Gentiles follow Jewish practices.

Pope Francis has made his priorities for the church clear.

Source: NCR