Less Confusion, More Clarity They Say
Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square
Both of my adult children now know their plans after graduation and I couldn’t be happier for them. The bigger world awaits where there will be more unknowns and questions to answer as they venture beyond the protective bubble of undergrad. They will begin to make life choices with discernment and some confidence, always taking a risk in this adventure of life. They’ll learn to trust God and their intuition with each step. While they will desire clarity along the way, they will find that it’s a gift some of the time. At other times, it’s the steps we take toward clarity, or truth, that matter. Most of the time, it’s in loving ourselves, God and others that we approach any semblance of clarity as the Holy Spirit moves us along. And, in this life, that’s enough.
I am reading everything I can about the upcoming Conclave in Rome. The big question the media is asking: What are they looking for in the next Pope? Cardinal Timothy Dolan addressed this question on The Today Show recently. As Archbishop of New York and a Cardinal, Dolan often represents American Catholics. He mentioned Pope Francis’ “heart,” but went on to dismiss him. We need more “clarity,” he said. A call for “clarity” that will bring “unity” highlight the buzzwords going into the Conclave on May 7th. Ironically, the Cardinals who desire more unity in the Church did not practice this under Pope Francis.
I believe that it is the Holy Spirit that knows exactly where the Church ought to be headed. I am counting on this. The conclave is not about anyone’s agenda, including my own. How easily the ego takes over. Thankfully, the election of the next successor of St. Peter will need a two-thirds vote.
What of Clarity?
It’s remarkable to me how a loud minority in the Church decried the confusion of Pope Francis for the past twelve years. Any confusion I felt led me to deeper consideration, more discernment, and a desire to learn and expand my notions. I didn’t always agree, that would not be possible as I disagree even with my loved ones. It was more about following the leadership of a man in the seat of St. Peter, a human person who answered the call as the Bishop of Rome. I watched as he recognized when he misstepped or said something that looked as if it contradicted Church teaching. Sometimes the issues were quite serious, as when he dismissed the Chilean Bishops accused of a major sexual abuse cover-up. After learning all the facts of the case, he publicly apologized and asked for all of the bishops’ resignations. At the Vatican, he met with sexual abuse survivors from Chile so he could hear their stories. He realized his need to learn how to better serve the people of God.
As far as clarity goes, Pope Francis could not have been more clear on foundational issues of living the faith. First and foremost, he communicated God’s love and mercy as paramount to a Christian’s life and encounter with others. He taught that the Church, the ordained and the lay people, need to listen to the cry of the poor, the marginalized, the ignored, the rejected, the sinners. In fact, in his first interview, he said, “I am a sinner.” What world leader has ever said that? As Holy Father to 1.4 billion Catholics, Francis showed us another way of being in the world.
He emphasized on many occasions that God’s people need to listen deeply to one another. His efforts with the Synod on Synodality will, God willing, have a lasting impact on the global Church. In addition, this Bishop of Rome spoke clearly in his groundbreaking encyclical, Laudato Si – The Care Of Our Common Home. His primary concern for our need as a Church and world to address the climate crisis was to care for the poorest of the poor nations in our world who are suffering the most from climate change. He wanted a poor Church that was for the poor. From the moment he visited the Island of Lampedusa, he expressed great concern for the plight of refugees and migrants. He never stopped speaking out and challenging wealthy nations to open their doors to welcome them. He could not have been more clear about his condemnation of the deplorable actions of the U.S. government toward migrants.
We need to walk with and accompany the person on their faith journey, without judgement. Pope Francis showed us that his monthly meetings with transgender persons, touching those with disabilities and conditions that rendered them unacceptable in the world, listening to the pain of divorced Catholics not allowed to participate in the Sacraments, listening to the concerns of the youth, of women who have a voice and desire to serve the Church with a holy longing to become deacons – Listen. He taught us to not only hear the words, but to listen to the whole person and then offer it to the Holy Spirit. He did not change Church doctrine, but he let in the Holy Spirit to spur a revival of God’s work through personal encounters.
Our Holy Father, Francis, communicated that clericalism must end, that the ordained are not meant to act or be treated as royalty. That, while their responsibility is to teach the Deposit of Faith, they do not have all the answers. They must be humble so they can serve and know their flock, smelling like the sheep they shepherd. They need to minister to them so they can see their wounds and what they suffer. The Church, through these ministers of God, was to be a field hospital for the wounded; where the faithful could heal and experience the unearned mercy of God, growing ever closer to Jesus.
He was clear that the Traditional Latin Mass (or Tridentine Mass) did not serve the people of God, that those who participated regularly in this rite overwhelmingly rejected the teachings from the Second Vatican Council. It was time to embrace the direction Vatican II led the Church. A liturgy that included a balanced celebration of both the Word and the Eucharist fed the people so they could go out to the world and spread the Gospel. His restrictions on this rite countered the tolerance of previous popes, but he reasoned it was time to move the faithful toward a Church where all were welcome. “Todos, todos, todos!” he exclaimed at World Youth Day in Portugal. The Church needed to look outward to embrace its global diversity.
Francis knew that humility was required to lead. He welcomed dialogue, discussion, and debate. He encouraged questions to be spoken out loud and considered in order to grow and learn. He showed us that by kissing the feet of the prisoners and Muslims, of kissing the feet of the South Sudan Leaders to beg them to consider peace, we would imitate Jesus. He clarified that the death penalty was not a viable option for any government as it did not respect the sacredness of life.
The Holy Spirit is still at work in the Church, according to Pope Francis. What some might think are settled matters on morality are still developing and coming to light because God’s revelation is still unfolding. I’m going to quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church here. “Yet even if Revelation is already complete, it has not been made completely explicit; it remains for Christian faith gradually to grasp its full significance over the course of the centuries. (94)” This is my final point on the clarity of Pope Francis. He understood well that God’s Revelation continues to be revealed to humanity. He taught us that by discernment as a Church we can move in the direction of God’s will. Issues of morality must be seen in light of discernment over the centuries.
A great quote by author and poet Maya Angelou has been circulating: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
To say that Pope Francis lacked clarity does not stand. Instead, certain people didn’t like what he had to say. It may have confused them, but instead of discerning it and growing in their faith, they rejected him and all that he said and did. This rejection may have closed their hearts to God’s will. My hope is that those hearts will be open now, led by the Holy Spirit in the Conclave.
Pope Francis, you were a good and faithful servant. Thank you for your witness. Pray for us.
Holy Spirit, you are moving. You alone know where the Church needs to go. May your promptings reach the Cardinals hearts and minds. Help them to listen to You. And Help the Faithful to see You at work and respond to the next Bishop of Rome with openness and joy. Amen
Call to Action: In the Comments below, write what this reflection stirs in your heart.
