Among the large number of biographies and books of all written types about Francisco or by the Argentine Pope himself, one of those without them … It is worth remembering that “let’s dream together” (Plaza and Ganez), which was published in 2020 and wrote four hands with British journalist Austin Evarthet. The author of other volumes on the newly completed Pontificate and the relationship of confidence with Jorge Mario Bergolio, Ivereight is convinced that he is with Francisco, “the Catholic Church entered” a new era “and that the next Bishop of Rome” will follow this trend. “
– What is the greatest contribution from Francisco Pontefat?
– The Cardinal Bergolio, as it was called, told Cardinals in March 2013, after the resignation of Benedict XVI, that what was required for the following Pontefat was to leave the church itself, open to preaching the parties and not be imprisoned in itself. This small discourse made many Cardinals believe that the Holy Spirit has already chosen the Pope. Given how the Pontificate ends, I think he achieved this goal in several ways, but I believe that the change in culture and mentality within the church.
– At the beginning of Pontificate, Cardinal Andres Andres Rodriguez Maradaga, one of the trusted Francisco men, said that the great goal is that the changes were “irreversible.” Is there not a backward opening?
Francisco has not made openness to the world, people or dialogue, but also for the Holy Spirit, and it is in the end the one that guides the church. The sound was key, that is, the listening operations in which the entire people of God participate. This requires dialogue and delegation. When seeing the entire process for recent years with the Synod Senodes, it appears to be irreversible, meaning that everyone has suffered from what involves the church of Senodal, which belongs to ecclesiastical traditions from the first centuries. I do not see any desire to return. Francisco opened a process that will continue during the next generation and in the following Pontificate.
– What are the other aspects that leave Argentina as an inheritance?
– He leaves a church attentive to the characteristics of human positions and does not try to resort to general rules. We have seen it, for example, in the synod around the family with the new way to accompany divorced people and marry. Or also with the possibility of blessing the same husbands. It is not a matter of changes in belief, but rather a vigilance with the pastoral privacy of each situation.
– It was part of the Christian society against these changes. Are there reforms that Francisco had to be brake so that the church’s unity did not endanger?
– All potatoes have the need not only to preserve them, but to form more than the unity of the church. It is one of its first duties. But this does not mean that he will not make decisions for fear that there will be a greater division. As the Jesuit always tried to distinguish where the Holy Spirit was in every decision. If you see a topic that there is a lot of division, I saw it as a sign that you did not have to go forward.
“Humility”
– Although he was supporting change?
For this reason, it seems important to me to emphasize his humility. Francisco did not have a doctrine or theology plan to impose. It was not his opinion that he said, but distinguishing what the soul was telling him with the church. For example, during the Amazon Senodes, most bishops voted in favor of the priestly coordination of men married in that area due to the lack of philosophers, but the Pope resisted that despite the fact that the vote was more than two -thirds favorable. He saw that during the discussion the polarization of the topic grew, which was a sign that it was not the time to implement the change. It is important to make decisions, whether the entire church is ready or not.
– Another example is giving women more space …
– So it is. In the first months of 2024, he called on many women to make presentations to the Cardino Council, including Angelikan Agency Bishop, in order to talk about his experience in the church and how to better integrate women’s voice. Everyone asked what he would lead. Will it allow the population management? Will the female priesthood reach? This is unknown, but the important thing for Francisco is to start listening and discrimination.
– With Francisco, there was an openness, yes, but the Kurdistan also grew in many parts of the world. How do you explain that?
These changes started long before Francisco. This is what he called time change. We are at a time when faith is not transmitted through law, culture, institutions, or family, but rather a personal experience of confrontation with the mercy of God and with Jesus Christ. This means a change in the church. We still live the death of the previous model and the appearance of something new. It is not scaling, but rather the transformation of Christianity. For this reason I think Francisco is the first Pope of this new age. If John Paul II and Bandick the sixteenth closed the era of the Great Church with modernity, Francisco has opened a new era, as the church must change itself to preach a completely different world. That is why the need to listen, dialogue, accompany, rapprochement, warmth and tenderness. All of these keywords of Pontificate come from it, the need for the Church to be different from the preaching of contemporary society.
– Even if you finish the minority church?
As Pordek 16 has already said, the Future Church will be smaller in terms of numbers in relation to the past, although those who go to the Mass and participate in the secrets do so increasingly for condemnation and the experience of pastoral transfer, more than usual or inherited from the tradition of their families or their culture. It still exists, but we are in a period of modification. It is striking today to see today that young people are more than followers of search engines. They have a very big doubt about the institution and it is the one that must change to accompany the young man who is looking for an ethical reference, although the ecclesiastical institution produces lack of confidence.
“Strong and decisive things”
– How did Francisco respond to the modification period that is speaking?
– humbly. What does not mean that there is no decision, because it is action and strong and decisive things, but humility in the truth of the offer to accompany contemporary humanity. He did not say what he should do or that the Church has the truth, but she called for thinking together and opening up to what the soul says, taking into account the tradition of the Church. This is very important.
– With Francisco, there were no ideological changes in areas where some Catholics were waiting for them, such as priestly females or optional cards for Latin ritual sheikhdoms. Can they arrive in the next Pontificate?
– Everything is possible because it is a tradition in a continuous development, although I see a big difference between the arrangement of married men and the female priesthood, because there was never in the priests of the Catholic Church and I mean an unconventional leap. Most ecclesiastical changes occur when something lost. In the early days of the church, on the other hand, married men were requested, as is now the case in many societies in the company with Rome, such as the Eastern. I can imagine it, unlike the tradition of celibacy. I find the bond between celibacy and priesthood is very important because it provides more service than many, because when one marries, he gives priority to his family. I can imagine in the future two types of priests: one of them is the priest, very rooted in the place while he is married, another priest more missionary, more flexible and can be displaced in the service of the church and the task.
– How do you imagine the next Pope?
– It is difficult. What can be seen when observing the Cardinal College is that the vast majority of its members are convinced that the direction of the church under the leadership of Francisco was the final. That is, there is no other road map at this time in the church. The only alternative is the traditional, which is an attempt by conservatives to return, to another era. But it is a minority even if it has a lot of noise. We are talking about no more than 15 Cardinals with the right to vote. Francisco Pontefat was the beginning of a new era in the church and the next Pope will follow this trend, especially pastoral, cinematic, missionary … This path was appointed to a generation. This does not prevent the next Pope from saying that we need time to unify the changes. Perhaps it will come from another part of the world and will have other priorities.
– After a long papacy like Bergoglio, can there be a short pontificate, transition?
– Even when the Pope considers itself the transition, as happened with Francisco, it begins permanent changes. You should always be open to surprise. Bergolio did not think it would continue for a long time. But I can now imagine the Pope looking for a new rhythm of the church. There are many issues that still have to implement previous reforms.
– What is the biggest mistake in Francisco?
I do not see big mistakes, but sometimes I made wrong decisions in several times from the trial that some people who did not meet their expectations later have met. He was very stubborn and when he made a decision, kept sharply. I moved like an excavator.
“They lied to him”
– With sexual assault, it is true that there are steps forward with important legislative changes, but sometimes it seemed to return. Can’t you do more?
Francisco faced violations that, above all, have been trying to change the verbal culture, which is at the root of the problem. The Pope made important legislative changes and forced many bishops to resign because he did not deal well with this issue, although he made mistakes as well, and they may have motives because he was confident in people who lied to him. However, the Church’s response to ill -treatment continues to depend a lot on personal relationships and not on institutional reforms. But looking back, I see a very big change: the question is now universal, which has never happened before. Everywhere the Church considers it a priority, after Francisco continuously, fierce culture and priesthood priesthood.
