POPE Francis has strongly outlined his comprehensive vision for the future of the Catholic Church. He told a meeting of the Italian church in Florence that our times require a deeply merciful Catholicism that is not afraid to change.
In a 50 minute speech to a National conference of the Italian church, some 2200 people from 220 Dioceses that they must realise: “We are not living an era of change but a change of era.”
“Before the problems of the church it is not useful to search for solutions in conservatism or fundamentalism, in the restoration of obsolete conduct and forms that no longer have the capacity of being significant culturally.”
He added: “Christian doctrine is not a closed system incapable of generating questions, doubts, interrogatives – but is alive, knows being unsettled, enlivened.” “It has a face that is not rigid, it has a body that moves and grows, it has a soft flesh: it is called Jesus Christ.” Thus, the reform of the Church under Pope Francis, as was the case at Vatican II, is a Church semper reformanda (always reforming) … it does not end in the umpteenth plan to change structures.
“It means instead grafting yourself to and rooting yourself in Christ, leaving yourself to be guided by the Spirit – so that all will be possible with genius and creativity.”
I find these remarks refreshing and inspiring. His comments in the Cathedral of Florence were continually interrupted by applause because, those gathered, like you and me, know that we cannot continue as we have been. We must confront the empty pews and the rigid dogmatism of the past with something new. New wine, new wineskins.