The first thing that we need to understand is that Pope Francis is not changing any core belief of the Church. What he is doing is offering us a new vision of Church, a new way (actually a very old and traditional way) of living as the People of God, the Body of Christ. What are some of the hallmarks of this new vision?
1. Pope Francis is inviting us to lead with the proclamation of the Gospel rather than with the pronouncement of moral teachings. This confuses some people on both the left and right side of the spectrum because they think that he is about to change, or is undermining, some of our moral teaching. He is not doing that. What he is doing is saying that if we don't first proclaim the Gospel message of mercy and love, especially love for the poor, then our moral voice is weakened.
2. The Holy Father has indicated right from the beginning that he intends to put more into practice the spirit of collegiality and collaboration that was fostered by the Second Vatican Council. He has done this right from the first day of his papacy when he continually referred to himself as the Bishop of Rome. Everyone knows that the pope is the bishop of Rome. There is nothing earth shattering about that. By highlighting that fact, however, he is saying that he is a bishop among bishops. He is also highlighting a very ancient theology of the papacy which says that he is Pope because he is bishop of Rome, not the other way around. Think about that one. Also by appointing the group of eight cardinals to consult with him on church reform as well as the committee to assist him with financial reform he is clearly indicating that he does not want to go it alone on important matters.
3. Related to the first point mentioned above he is calling us to be a Church of and for the poor. Exactly what does that mean. I don't think that it necessarily means handing out more money to the poor so much as making sure that we journey with the poor in their struggles and understand how life is with them, what their struggles are. He did this as archbishop of Buenos Aires and he is doing it in Rome as well. That is certainly the message of this Sunday's Gospel with its parable of the poor man Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man's sin is not his lack of generosity. It is his lack of awareness. Pope John Paul II pointed this out in his Yankee Stadium homily on his first visit to the US. I see the need for this challenge when I say Facebook postings calling undocumented people criminals or calling for drug testing for food stamp recipients. It is not that these issues are not concerns but rather the complete lack of awareness of the struggles that most immigrants and poor people go through. It is easier to demonize whole groups based on the sins of a few, but if we walk with people and hear their stories I think that our approaches would certainly be different.
4. Uniting all of this together is his example of humility and his call to church leaders to be servants. How often have people been greeted by us priests and other leaders with regulations and policies rather than by a kind word. It's not that we have to eliminate regulations and policies but rather the way that we present them. One priest that I met made a good suggestion in this regard. He said that when someone comes to his parish office he first introduces himself, then asks them about their lives and their faith and only then asks, What can I (we) do for you?" He also said that he always looks for a way of fulfilling a request before he says "No". Pope Francis has really challenged us in this regard in both word and example. He has also called for more bishops who are pastoral and who walk with the people.
I'm sure that there is more that can be said but that is my take on this wonderful new successor of Peter as Bishop of Rome.
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