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Pope Francis, 21st Century Christianity and Changing the World
Pope Francis, 21st Century Christianity and Changing the World
POSTED AUGUST 20, 2018
The first pope from the Americas, Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose "Francis" as his papal name when he was selected by the College of Cardinals in 2013. Although a Jesuit, he chose the name not in reference to his order's co-founder, St. Francis Xavier, but to St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the poor. It was a strong signal as to the emphasis he would give as the spiritual leader of the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics.
His teachings and statements provide a good counter to the anti-immigrant rhetoric, to climate change nay-saying, and to the worst aspects of capitalism.
On capitalism, inequality, and the Church's mission to the poor
On capitalism, inequality, and the Church's mission to the poor
"The goal of economics and politics is to serve humanity, beginning with the poorest and most vulnerable wherever they may be, even in their mothers' wombs. Every economic and political theory or action must set about providing each inhabitant of the planet with the minimum wherewithal to live in dignity and freedom, with the possibility of supporting a family, educating children, praising God and developing one's own human potential." - from an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron on the eve of the 2013 G-8 Summit
"The goal of economics and politics is to serve humanity, beginning with the poorest and most vulnerable wherever they may be, even in their mothers' wombs. Every economic and political theory or action must set about providing each inhabitant of the planet with the minimum wherewithal to live in dignity and freedom, with the possibility of supporting a family, educating children, praising God and developing one's own human potential." - from an open letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron on the eve of the 2013 G-8 Summit
"[The Church's] goal is not to proselytize but to listen to needs, desires and disappointments, despair, hope. We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.” - from an interview with Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari
"[The Church's] goal is not to proselytize but to listen to needs, desires and disappointments, despair, hope. We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.” - from an interview with Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari
In November 2013, eight months after becoming pope, Francis published his first apostolic exhortation. The 224-page “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel) speaks at length about the evils of unfettered capitalism and the church’s need to minister to the poor. Here are two excerpts:
In November 2013, eight months after becoming pope, Francis published his first apostolic exhortation. The 224-page “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy of the Gospel) speaks at length about the evils of unfettered capitalism and the church’s need to minister to the poor. Here are two excerpts:
"Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say “thou shalt not” to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?"
"Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say “thou shalt not” to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills. How can it be that it is not a news item when an elderly homeless person dies of exposure, but it is news when the stock market loses two points?"
"Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting."
"Some people continue to defend trickle-down theories which assume that economic growth, encouraged by a free market, will inevitably succeed in bringing about greater justice and inclusiveness in the world. This opinion, which has never been confirmed by the facts, expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralized workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting."
On migrants and refugees
On migrants and refugees
Francis' defense of migrants and refugees has been a key theme of his 5-year-old pontificate. Here are some of his more recent statements :
Francis' defense of migrants and refugees has been a key theme of his 5-year-old pontificate. Here are some of his more recent statements :
“There is no Christian joy when doors are closed; there is no Christian joy when others are made to feel unwanted, when there is no room for them in our midst...the cry of the poor is a kind of a prayer; it opens our hearts and teaches us to be attentive.” (January 18, 2018)
“There is no Christian joy when doors are closed; there is no Christian joy when others are made to feel unwanted, when there is no room for them in our midst...the cry of the poor is a kind of a prayer; it opens our hearts and teaches us to be attentive.” (January 18, 2018)
"We encounter Jesus in those who are poor, rejected, or refugees. Do not let fear get in the way of welcoming our neighbour in need." (June 20, 2018)
"We encounter Jesus in those who are poor, rejected, or refugees. Do not let fear get in the way of welcoming our neighbour in need." (June 20, 2018)
"A person's dignity does not depend on them being a citizen, a migrant, or a refugee. Saving the life of someone fleeing war and poverty is an act of humanity." (June 20, 2018)
"A person's dignity does not depend on them being a citizen, a migrant, or a refugee. Saving the life of someone fleeing war and poverty is an act of humanity." (June 20, 2018)
On the environment
On the environment
Pope Francis released his encyclical on the environment in June 2015. Perhaps the most important new focus of the encyclical is the relationship between global poverty, catastrophic inequality, and consumerism that leads to environmental destruction. Here are a few excerpts:
Pope Francis released his encyclical on the environment in June 2015. Perhaps the most important new focus of the encyclical is the relationship between global poverty, catastrophic inequality, and consumerism that leads to environmental destruction. Here are a few excerpts:
"The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor."
"The earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor."
"The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world."
"The pace of consumption, waste and environmental change has so stretched the planet’s capacity that our contemporary lifestyle, unsustainable as it is, can only precipitate catastrophes, such as those which even now periodically occur in different areas of the world."
"Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience."
"Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience."
"We are not faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the underprivileged, and at the same time protecting nature."
"We are not faced with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather one complex crisis which is both social and environmental. Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the underprivileged, and at the same time protecting nature."
"Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, above all on the part of those countries which are more powerful and pollute the most."
"Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, above all on the part of those countries which are more powerful and pollute the most."
On the death penalty
On the death penalty
Pope Francis announced a change to the Catholic catechism on August 2, 2018, stating that the death penalty is inadmissible in all circumstances:
Pope Francis announced a change to the Catholic catechism on August 2, 2018, stating that the death penalty is inadmissible in all circumstances:
"Today... there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide."
"Today... there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide."
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