Catholic Apologist Pens Book: Pope Francis Explained

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My Pope, Our Pope, the Sinner

2013-09-21, Vatican Radio

As a lay observer, I decided to use bullet points to share my interpretation of Pope Francis' recent remarks in the interviews documented by America Magazine. The mainstream media has a practice of quoting everything the Holy Father says with the accuracy of a telephone game. Here is what I gleaned from the interview:

Pope Francis:

• sees himself as a sinner who was chosen by God.
• chose not to live in the papal apartment because he prefers community life.
• takes his prayerful time when making a decision.
• is irritated when people say that Ignatian spiritual exercises are Ignatian because they are done in silence. They can be done with or without silence. 
• is close to the mystical movement.
• had a bit of a bumpy start as a young Jesuit provincial who ran the Society with an authoritative hand.
• views ministers within the Church who behave badly as spiritually barren.
• believes that the young Church (view themselves as self-sufficient) and old Church (may try to impose cultural models upon the young) must build a future together.
• sees the Church as a field hospital after battle - needing to heal and nurture the faithful.
• believes that a confessor must be neither too rigid, nor too lax.
• wants the Bishops to leave no one behind, including those who have left the Church or are indifferent.
• wants all sinners to be treated with mercy.
• does not speak much about artificial contraception, homosexuality, or abortion because the Church teaching is clear on those subjects - and that they are not at the heart of Christ's message.
• believes that the Church has a lot of doctrines and for him to focus on only a few incessantly would be wrong.
• wants the salvific message to be proclaimed first, followed by catechesis.
• sees the vowed religious as prophets, leaven. 
• thinks that the volume of complaints sent to the curia in regard to unorthodox practices at a local level are misdirected (I wonder how many are from the Diocese of Rochester). He wants those issues to be reported to the local levels.
• thinks that the current methods of  the Synod of Bishops may not be a good model and wants to look more at how things were done prior to the Great Schism in 1054.
• wants us to walk united with differences as this is the way of Jesus.
• knows that women are different than men, though they are equally important. Functionality and dignity are two very distinct things, and the Church must be clear in the treatment of women in regard to the latter.
• thinks that the moto proprio of Benedict XVI allowing wider usage of the Tridentine Mass was a good thing, but that we must be careful not to malign the novus ordo.
• warns that finding God takes patience, and a contemplative attitude
• believes that if someone says that they met God with total certainty and without a smidgen of doubt, it is not good. If someone believes to have all the answers, God is not with them.
• said that if a Christian is a legalist, he will find nothing. 
• believes that those who look for 'exaggerated doctrinal security' have an inward view of things.
• prefers to say that we must have hope rather than be optimistic. God is hope, and optimism is for humans.
• thinks that we must get out of a 'laboratory' and into the field. In the field, we can see the bigger picture of what is needed to help others. 
• views the Church as having been at times brilliant, and at other times in history, unable to think.
• suffers from a wandering mind in prayer, and sometimes even falls asleep while at adoration (I'm in good company!).

I was a little surprised by a couple of items, but on the whole the interview appears to be rather uneventful. As usual, the mainstream media has created a stir where nothing I would consider 'breaking news' was said. Full disclosure: I had not read any other blog entries, news stories (Catholic or secular) or watched any commentary about the Pope's remarks prior to making this post. After seeing the headlines flood my newsfeed on various social sites, I decided to go directly to the source. I am the first to admit that on +Ponderings+ my focus is often on the very topics (both Abortion and Obama are the most tagged posts) that our Holy Father would view as being more political than spiritual. While thinking about this tendency, I have decided that it is because I hope to have others awakened from a crooked path. I was once lost and want to create a visible waypoint for someone else. Like an ex-smoker preaching about health to a smoker. And with this thought in my heart and on my mind, I close. 

Edited to add: Here is what Bishop Richard Malone of the Diocese of Buffalo had to say about the matter:



Edited again to add: Read what Fr. Z has to say about the liberal (Catholic and non) comments on the Holy Father HERE.

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This was our 400th +Catholic Ponderings+ post!

Bishop Malone: How will Pope Francis reform the Church?

Bishop Richard Malone of the Diocese of Buffalo weighs in on possible reforms under the leadership of our Holy Father, Pope Francis.

Yessir, That's My Pope!

Misguided Politician of the Week - VP Joe Biden

VP of the US, Joe Biden/AP Photo

If you are both a citizen of the United States of America and Catholic, you should know that Vice President Joe Biden, a.k.a. 'Crazy Uncle Joe,' will be representing our nation at the upcoming Installation Mass of Pope Francis. Our Vice President reports that he is Catholic, but any honest person (Catholic or not) would admit that his Catholic identity is recognizable only when it is convenient.

Mr. Biden reportedly said that he looks forward to working with the new Pontiff on important issues in the future. It's too bad there is no indication the VP's future will be any different than his past. He'll be doing the 'Pelosi Shuffle' on Tuesday, St. Joseph's Day.

Just as other CINOs who went to Rome before, he'll jam an index finger into each ear and shout, "Yada, yada, yada I can't hear you Holy Father!" as the pope attempts to educate him. Pope Francis (Cardinal Bergoglio) on Catholic politicians:

“we should commit ourselves to ‘eucharistic coherence’, that is, we should be conscious that people cannot receive holy communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in particular when abortion, euthanasia, and other serious crimes against life and family are facilitated.  This responsibility applies particularly to legislators, governors, and health professionals"--Source

Latest quote: When talking about an upcoming meeting with cardinals, “I’d better show up or I’ll lose my soul.”

Pope Francis

Pope Benedict XVI greets Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina

Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is our first Jesuit Pope, and also the first from Latin America.

Greeting the faithful

Blessing the faithful after humbly requesting that they pray for him. 

Good night and sleep well.

His first words publicly spoken as Pope:

2013-03-13 Vatican Radio

Brothers and sisters good evening.

 
You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have come almost to the ends of the earth to get him… but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome.

First of all I would say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI.. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord bless him and Our Lady protect him.

Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory to the Father…

And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood . My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with help of my Cardinal Vicar, be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.

And now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favour. Before the bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me – the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer – your prayer for me – in silence. 

[The Protodeacon announced that all those who received the blessing, either in person or by radio, television or by the new means of communication receive the plenary indulgence in the form established by the Church. He prayed that Almighty God protect and guard the Pope so that he may lead the Church for many years to come, and that he would grant peace to the Church throughout the world.]

[Immediately afterwards Pope Francis gave his first blessing Urbi et Orbi – To the City and to the World.]

I will now give my blessing to you and to the whole world, to all men and women of good will.
Brothers and sisters, I am leaving you. Thank you for your welcome. Pray for me and I will be with you again soon.

We will see one another soon. 

Tomorrow I want to go to pray the Madonna, that she may protect Rome.

Good night and sleep well!

Pope Francis (as Archbishop/Cardinal) on same-sex marriage:
"Let's not be naive, we're not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God," writes Bergoglio in a letter sent to the monasteries of Buenos Aires, where he is archbishop. "We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God."-Source

On the sanctity of life:
“Those who think they own life are mistaken,” he said. “We should not think that because we have a little bit of power, we can monopolize or make ourselves the owners of life.”--Source

On dissenting politicians and the reception of communion:
“we should commit ourselves to ‘eucharistic coherence’, that is, we should be conscious that people cannot receive holy communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in particular when abortion, euthanasia, and other serious crimes against life and family are facilitated.  This responsibility applies particularly to legislators, governors, and health professionals"--Source

On the Year of Faith and the New Evangelization:
"We need to come out of ourselves and head for the periphery. We need to avoid the spiritual sickness of a Church that is wrapped up in its own world: when a Church becomes like this, it grows sick. It is true that going out onto the street implies the risk of accidents happening, as they would to any ordinary man or woman. But is the Church stays wrapped up in itself, it will age. And if I had to choose between a wounded Church that goes out onto the streets and a sick withdrawn Church, I would definitely choose the first one."--Source

Quoted St. Francis Prayer to children in 2010:
“where there is hatred, we will bring love, where there is fighting, we will bring peace.”--Source

Pope Francis' Schedule (EWTN News/CNA):

The Vatican has announced Pope Francis' schedule for the coming days, which will begin with Mass on Thursday, March 14 in the Sistine Chapel together with the cardinals at 5 p.m. It is expected that Pope Francis will pay a private visit to Santa Maria Maggiore the same day, asking for the Blessed Virgin's protection and intercession during his pontificate. On March 15 at 11 a.m. he will officially welcome and address the cardinals, both those who elected him and those who are over 80. On Saturday March 16, Pope Francis will hold an audience for journalists and media representatives in the Paul VI Hall. He will give an Angelus address on Sunday. Pope Francis' inauguration as Bishop of Rome will be held Tuesday, March 19, the feast day of Saint Joseph. The inauguration is to be held at St. Peter's Square.

And now a word from my Bishop: