Signs of hope in Francis’ pontificate, reform still needed: NZ theologian

In an opinion piece in The Post, Auckland-based Rocio Figueroa said that, at the start of his pontificate, Pope Francis “sought to re-centre Catholics at the heart of Christ’s message: the preferential option for the poor and the most vulnerable”.

Francis called for “a poor Church for the poor”, and his vision urged the Church to be missionary, with shepherds who “carry the smell of the sheep” and being a presence in the peripheries.

Dr Figueroa said that Pope Francis “encourages believers to move beyond external moralism and abstract, essentialist doctrines, emphasising instead the importance of encountering each person on their journey”.

“Above all, he has defended the inviolability of individual conscience and the importance of discernment.

“Francis’ pontificate has been marked by symbolic and concrete gestures which has revealed his pastoral concerns to the world”, starting with his 2013 visit to the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in 2013, she noted.

“Throughout these 12 years, his voice has been a prophetic challenge to economic exclusion and unjust social structures that have bred violence. He has listened to the signs of the times, denouncing the ecological crisis caused by consumerism, environmental degradation and climate change.

“His call for ecological conversion, grounded in justice and respect for creation, remains one of the most urgent aspects of his teaching.”

Dr Figueroa said that, under Francis’ leadership, “important steps have been taken to address the [sexual abuse] crisis, yet the response remains incomplete, with systemic accountability still lacking in many areas”.

And, she said, although the Pope has “introduced women into leadership positions within the Vatican, this does not address the deeper issue: the institutionalised violence of a Church that excludes women from real decision-making power”.

FULL STORY

‘True reform demands constitutional changes…’ (By Rocio Figueroa/The Post – subscription required)