POPE FRANCIS – Austen Ivereigh releases papal biography The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope #OnAMissionOfLove #OnAMissionOfTruth Raymond Arroyo had a spirited television discussion on The World Over Live this past Thursday with the author about his latest book, which the National Catholic Register reports drills into the Pope’s early history as a young Jesuit provincial who embraced a reformist agenda, but would later be effectively ostracized by members of his order in Argentina. Ivereigh considers him a bridge-builder who takes risks in dialoguing and reaching out and favors mission over clarity, wishing to speak to people who are outside the Church and do not know the Church, including atheists. Ivereigh: The secret to him is that he is a masterbuilder of bridges; he builds bridges outside the boundaries of faith, politics, culture, and he believes that the Holy Spirit, that God acts through those bridges and that his job as pope is to open up those spaces. If you were too preoccupied with the accuracy and making sure that everything is absolutely clear, that would impede, that would make it more difficult for him to build those bonds of friendship. Does that make sense? Arroyo: At the same time hes the pope and the confusion... that is the problem. People read this (like the interviews with an elderly atheist journalist who didnt take notes and stated inaccuracies as facts prompting The Vatican to remove the interviews from their website) and are confused. The faithful are confused and the people whom I think hes trying to engage, they are similarly confused. I dont see how that furthers, if that is indeed his goal, how it connects there. Ivereigh: Because I think were, youre still attached perhaps to the idea of a Church built first of all for clarity... Its a different way of thinking, its an extremely unpolitical way of thinking. Arroyo: As a pope, its a hard way because basically when the pope speaks one assumes this is the law, he is teaching us what we are expected as Catholics today to do and live. And when he says these things on the phone, even though hes intending it just for that woman, the world now knows. Is that the message? Can we just ignore local pastors and the bishop? Ivereigh: Okay, but is it just with the pope says…? Is the pope a vehicle for Church teaching or is the pope a model of Christ…? Arroyo: Hes both! Ivereigh: But is the way he acts and the way he is, is actually just as powerful and indeed as important…? I mean this is a pope who speaks through actions and through his words – and it has had a massive impact... (giving a few examples) Arroyo: Sure... Beautiful gestures and John Paul II –Im old enough to remember– he did the same thing: its not like this is the first time weve seen a pope engage people and kiss babies, I mean this has happened for decades... I heard a beautiful story about Pope Francis just the other day (he recounts that a priest friend received a phone call from the pope on his way to visit his dying mother): he regarded me with the tenderness of a mother... which is lovely. Ivereigh: Yes, that is what he does. And that is him. He has a tenderness of a mother and maybe thats the most important thing about him rather than that he teaches... He is not a theologian, he is not a philosopher, unlike John Paul II, unlike Pope Benedict: he is above all – I mean, he is an extremely clever man– but, in a sense, for him ideas are not the most important thing, it is the heart, he acts from the heart. Sometimes, therefore, leaves things. But I think he is pretty confident that there are quite a few people ready in The Vatican and commentators like you and me who can clear up ambiguities on his behalf when necessary. Arroyo: Well, as Cardinal George said, why should we be in the cleanup crew? I feel awkward having to. What do I know? None of us are in his mind, none of us can explain away these things… Ivereigh: But we know what the church teaches… Arroyo: Of course we do, but if the pope seemingly is saying something counter to to that and The Vatican doesnt correct it, and the woman says he told me that as a divorced and remarried Catholics I can go to Communion, thats what he told me, who am I then to say you cant do that!? Now I look like the hater, right? And so do you. Ivereigh: No, what we need to do is very simple: we say Actually, this is what the Church teaches, these are the rules, right?, and you can be sure that the pope has not contradicted these, you can be sure. I have never… I have been through his life, Ive spoken to people who work with him... In fact... his press advisor said: No way, he would never ever have contradicted Church teaching. And the lively conversation goes on! Worth watching the show. Worth reading the book. Worth pondering this age-old kerygmatic-catechetical evangelization balancing act with unbiased clarity and undying charity. Worth praying – for the pope, for the Faithful, and for all who see and hear what he does and we say, and who wonder, ask or arrive at (accurate or inaccurate) conclusions regarding the meaning of his words and gestures and regarding Church doctrine and discipline, and Christs love and laws. May we all be granted the grace to understand and embrace whatever the Lord wishes to teach us through the present pope in continuity with his predecessors and his successors –because there will be successors– until the Lord returns in His glory. Let us pray to the Lord, for discernment and wisdom for the Holy Father and for the grace to shepherd the flock entrusted to his care and confirm the brethren in the Faith well energizing every single one of us to become a missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. ewtn/tv/live/worldover.asp #OnAMissionOfLove #OnAMissionOfTruth #iLove #iMessage #iLoveMessage #iPrepareTheWay #iEvangelize #LetsBeDisciples #LetsBeMissionaries #LetsBeSaints #RememberYouAreLoved #EresAmado #VoceEAmado
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 08:48:17 +0000
Trending Topics
© 2015