Praying with Evangelii Gaudium, Day 16: Change that begins at home

                             

                             Grafitti of Pope Francis in Rome (Source: Daily Mail)

  It’s pretty hard for anyone out there to fail to notice how much attention Pope Francis has been getting from all kinds of media, and how even in the society at large, many are ready to give him the status of 'super hero'!  In response to this enthusiasm around Franciss, there are cynics who assume that this interest in him simply comes from false expectations: They assume that most of the media’s love affair with Francis will end when it (the media)  realizes that the changes Francis is speaking of is not the ones ‘Western society’ wants. These changes he’s proposing are however, exactly what the world needs. This is one reason why I believe this pope is so beloved after almost a year in office:  His active simplicity, his embracing of all people, his closeness to the poor etc…these things and many more have really touched the hearts of many Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

   There is another very attractive aspect of Francis’s personality that is emphasized at the end of this second section of chapter one: his ability to walk the walk, and talk the talk:  In a rather dramatic way, in point 32, Francis turns the tables on himself. Throughout the entire exhortation, he had been working hard at motivating a

nd inspiring the faithful, encouraging them to live their conversion and deepen their experience of a renewed faith.  So in this section, he states it quite simply: “Since I am called to put into practice what I ask of others, I too must think about a conversion of the papacy” (EG 32) It goes without saying that the reform of the Papacy is what he wants. What may come to a surprise to some, is what he says next: in order to align his ministry more perfectly with what Jesus intended for it, he’ll need to be open to the ideas of others. (EG 32) It makes sense: The contribution of others is essential to the conversion that even the papacy must undergo. And it also seems obvious that Francis would consult with those around him.  No pope ever works alone: There are committees and councils and advisors that inform their decisions. That much is clear. And yet, Francis also recognizes there is still much work to do in this department. Part of the reason for this is that there are still many Catholics (both lay and religious) who assume that the idea of the ‘ primacy of the Church’ implies that the Holy See  ought to lead, and the people ought to follow. There is some logic to that approach  (how else can we expect the Pope to watch over his flock of over a billion people than with the help of a centralized government of the Church). Nonetheless, when collegiality or collaboration is not cultivated, when centralization  becomes excessive, Francis sees this as a ‘complication to the Church and her life and missionary outreach.’ (EG 32)

 Ensuring a conversion within the papacy will be key to Francis’ ministry. However, the most important task at hand for him, is to constantly remind us that it’s also up to us to be creative, and bold with our ministries, and to remember that the change we seek in the Church should begin in our parishes, and with ourselves. In other words, it will be crucial for us to not fall into that trap of comfort that dictates ‘because we’ve always done things a certain way, that’s how we’ll continue doing them, whether it ‘works’ or not.’ (EG 33) I feel this is not the first time I discuss this idea of how complacency sometimes settles in to the lives of the faithful, and can lead to a stifling of creativity in the Church. It’s certainly the only time he mentions it in the exhortation, but I feel it’s something he’s addressed in one of his many interviews.

  But this is not something he’s addressing only to traditionalists or conservatives, many of could be accused of clinging to tradition and resisting a spirit of renewal in the Church. No, this is a message to all of us.  Francis is telling us that ideas are good, but if they just come from one person working alone, they may never flourish. It’s not just the Pope who must turn to others for assistance and advice, but all who carry the mission of the Church in the heart and in their lives. Good ideas and projects are shared with a community. This is how they grow, and become mission. That is indeed one interpretation of Francis’ words, but he also brings it back to working in collaboration with the leadership. As he says “The important thing is to not walk alone, but to rely on each other as brothers and sisters, and especially under the leadership of the bishops, in a wise and realistic pastoral discernment.” (EG 33) In other words, yes, get on fire with ideas, but don’t assume that your ideas represent what the Church needs. Talk to those who are in leadership if possible. Let them gently guide you along the way with their network and resources. 

This feels a little counterintuitive in an age where people are such individualists and feel they can move the mountain on their own. Some of it is foreign even for Catholics who are not necessarily in touch with their Church leaders, and wouldn’t think of going to them when ‘good ideas’ pop into their head. Without recognizing this challenge, Francis accepts that there will be resistance in most of his homilies… but he keeps coming back with the same messages every week, in the hope that some of what he’s saying will become our guidelines as we move forward as a community.

32. Since I am called to put into practice what I ask of others, I too must think about a conversion of the papacy. It is my duty, as the Bishop of Rome, to be open to suggestions which can help make the exercise of my ministry more faithful to the meaning which Jesus Christ wished to give it and to the present needs of evangelization. Pope John Paul II asked for help in finding “a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation”.[35] We have made little progress in this regard. The papacy and the central structures of the universal Church also need to hear the call to pastoral conversion. The Second Vatican Council stated that, like the ancient patriarchal Churches, episcopal conferences are in a position “to contribute in many and fruitful ways to the concrete realization of the collegial spirit”.[36] Yet this desire has not been fully realized, since a juridical status of episcopal conferences which would see them as subjects of specific attributions, including genuine doctrinal authority, has not yet been sufficiently elaborated.[37] Excessive centralization, rather than proving helpful, complicates the Church’s life and her missionary outreach.

33. Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent attitude that says: “We have always done it this way”. I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities. A proposal of goals without an adequate communal search for the means of achieving them will inevitably prove illusory. I encourage everyone to apply the guidelines found in this document generously and courageously, without inhibitions or fear. The important thing is to not walk alone, but to rely on each other as brothers and sisters, and especially under the leadership of the bishops, in a wise and realistic pastoral discernment.