A refreshing and inspiring Pope - Intro to the new book 'Pope Francis' Inspiring Vision 2'

Pope Francis' Inspiring Vision 2

From the evening Pope Francis stepped out on to the balcony at St Peter’s and asked the people to bless him, there was a refreshing sense that something was different.

In a world anxious for positive, constructive leadership he has reassured, challenged and moved us, because he comes across as a genuine pastor who cares for us and lives a simple life consistent with the Gospel. His first visit outside of Rome was to refugees at Lampedusa. On his first Holy Thursday he washed the feet of a young female Muslim prisoner. He is also the master of challenging but memorable metaphors: “the smell of the sheep”, “a field hospital after battle”, “an inverted pyramid”. He has re-introduced words we had forgotten: “mercy”, “tenderness”, “warmth”, “conversation”, “dialogue”, “pilgrim”, “discernment”, “synodal”, “joy” and “beauty”. All these things make us think and encourage us. He put the poor at the heart of the Church’s mission in a way that was Gospel-like.

Pope Francis is very attractive. He is admired by many. But Francis is also a demanding Pope. He requires us to be adult. He refuses to take responsibility for everything in the Church, arguing for a radical decentralisation to local bishops and Episcopal Conferences. He invites us to live with uncertainty, without clear answers. He is not afraid of open discussion. In fact, he says that open fraternal debate does not frighten him. Instead, “I look for it.” He believes in the sense of the faithful and that we listen to the Spirit by listening to one another. In the apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, he advises pastors and the faithful not to be frightened of weakness but to discern the best possible response they can make because “Jesus wants a Church attentive to the goodness which the Holy Spirit sows in the midst of human weakness”. (AL308) He clearly believes we can trust the consciences of the faithful to make good decisions.

This is a radical message for us who have been trained for centuries to listen to what the Rome says and obey. It is a challenge to those who want clear answers that leave no space for the necessary confusion of normal adult moral life.

Over the past few years I have been writing columns on Francis. These are ten more reflections to add to those in Pope Francis’ Inspiring Vision. I continue to be inspired by him. I hope you are too.

Fr Noel Connolly SSC

Fr Noel Connolly SSC is a lecturer in Missiology at both the Broken Bay Institute and the Catholic Institute of Sydney. He is also a member of the Adult Formation Team with Catholic Mission Australia and has recently been appointed by the Australian Bishops to the Facilitation Team for the Plenary Council 2020.

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Related links

Set 1 Pope Francis 1 and 2

Set 2 Pope Francis 1 and 2 and Reflections on Mission