Pope Francis: Passionate message, with compassion

    Pope Francis continued to make international news last week with his 12,000-word interview given to the Italian-language Jesuit publication La Civiltà Cattolica in which talked about many issues, including Catholic teaching on sexual and medical ethics and his style of governance. What was your reaction?
    First of all, I think it would be very helpful for people to read the entire interview. The media has focused on a very small and limited number of issues, which is a bit unfair. Secondly, I think when people read the entire piece they will understand that, very clearly, he is calling us to know and to understand church teaching and to live a life of discipleship with the Lord Jesus. He’s also calling those of us in positions of teaching, preaching and pastoral care to walk with people in good times and in bad, in darkness and in times of questioning and even in times of disagreement. I think the bottom line is that he says he has no right nor the intention to change the teachings of the church and the teachings of Scripture. The key for him is the way in which we communicate church teaching. Do we communicate it with respect and kindness, drawing people closer to Jesus? Or do we do it in a way that isolates them from the church? On some of those very volatile issues, some people may feel the church has condemned them, but the church never condemns people. The church preaches and teaches about issues, but we never condemn people. If the church comes across that way, then the church is not following the mission of Christ. The pope himself very clearly made the statement that he is a sinner. He’s not asking us to do something that he himself is not challenged with.
    What do you think of Pope Francis’ very direct, simple style?
    He is not bashful in challenging bishops and priests. For example, in one of his conferences, he reminded bishops he didn’t want them to be “airport bishops.” He didn’t want them traveling all over the place. They should be home, guiding their people. That’s not to say we don’t have some important responsibilities in other places. But the Holy Father wants us to be wedded to the local community. So he’s not at all bashful in dealing with the responsibilities of bishops, priests, deacons and religious. He’s also not bashful in driving home the compassion of Christ. He said he is not changing the teachings of the church, but he’s asking us to make sure that when we teach and preach, that we do it in a way that is filled with passion as well as compassion. He’s saying there are important issues that certainly are at the heart of what the church teaches – abortion, the sacredness of marriage as sacrament and our teachings on sexuality. He has specifically said that he has not put those issues in the forefront, and he has done so intentionally. This is not to say that he disagrees with these issues or thinks they are less important, but he says we must preach about all issues. These are not the only issues. They are the issues that are well known and issues we have stood for and will continue to stand. But let us not forget the poor, the street people, the immigrant, the death penalty, euthanasia and assisted suicide. We must not forget all those who live on the fringes of society, in poverty and with disabilities. He’s calling us not to be cafeteria Catholics and just pick some of the issues. He wants us to eat the entire meal.
    Is his style similar to the one Jesus used with the woman at the well, who was known to be a sinner?
    Pope Francis uses a very positive style, and the example of the woman at the well is precisely that. Jesus did not condemn her. He did not put the hammer down on her infidelity but affirmed her as a person. He loved her as a person and called her to conversion and new life. And what happened? She herself became an evangelizer. Maybe it’s akin to the statement: “Honey attracts more flies than vinegar.” If it ever worked in the past where we could say to people, “Do this or you will be condemned and go to hell,” that would never work today. On the contrary, we want people to follow Jesus not out of fear and blind obedience but because they know Jesus and his teachings challenge them, make sense to them and give them spiritual nourishment.
    What about those who disagree with church teaching?
    There will always be people who disagree and will not follow church teaching. That should be a reminder to us that Jesus never gave up on anyone, and neither should we. When someone disagrees with us or with church teaching – perhaps even in a bold way – we are called to respect them, love them and pray for them and in conversation with them politely call them to a deeper understanding of church teaching and continuing to follow Jesus as a disciple.
    English translation of Pope Francis' interview can be found at www.americamagazine.org/pope-interview.
    Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarionherald@clarionherald.org.