Peter CostelloThe Francis Factor: A New Departure
The press in general continues to develop the idea of ‘the Francis effect’ as if it were a new cosmological theory, an ecclesiastical counterpart perhaps to the second law of thermodynamics. In this book the editors have assembled a variety of views from some 25 contributors, some very well known indeed such as the popular Carmelite writer Timothy Radcliffe, to mark the anniversary of the Pope’s historic election.
I have from the start one small caveat. The contributors are from Ireland, Britain and the USA. For a truly universal review surely some essays from France, Germany, Africa and the Far East would have been a useful; though Aidan Troy writing about the reactions in his Parisian parish, and the Pallottine John O’Connor discussing Jorge Bergoglio at home in the Argentine add very interesting perspectives.
It is worth bearing in mind that beyond the mindset of Anglo-American opinion there are other points of view. The election of a South American Pope should alert us to the real meaning of the Francis effect, that the currents of opinion are now beginning to run very strongly in what we all too easily see as the backwaters of the Church.
The feeling that real changes are on their way are well covered by Michael Collins. He emphasises the rapidity with Pope Francis moved on the scandal that is the Vatican Bank, a notorious haunt of criminals and associates of criminals.
New role
The essayists are largely enthusiastic, sensing change and exciting developments in many areas. But some issues, same-sex marriage and women priests are still not on the agenda, so to speak. Though one contributor says the Pope’s ideal may be to “declericalise the Church, not to clericalise women”. Indeed the suggestion is made that a start of a new role for women in the Church could begin with appointing some of them to the Vatican diplomatic service – a female papal nuncio would indeed be something new and very different.
Generally what seems to emerge across all the essays is the notion of a less bureaucratic Church, with a true pastoral outlook, a Church which acknowledges, as the Pope himself has done, that we are all sinners – and mean it.
The problem indeed seems to be not such much the papacy, as the curia. One writer mentions all those priests in curial positions who do no parish work as being cut off from the real world. Others mention an increase in the collegiality of the church, mooted at Vatican II. These points are naturally linked, for an increase in episcopal authority and independence of action would lead to a reduction in the need for the centralised administration, which in any case is not the administration of Catholics, but merely of clergy. Institutional alterations of this kind will in time lead eventually, not to dogmatic change, but to doctrinal development. Never underestimate the effect of creative theology.
A final perspective might be the final view of Richard Clarke, the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh. “It is of course far too early in his pontificate to make categorical pronouncements on the lasting influence and future legacy of this fascinating Pope. We may be certain, however, that he has made the task of being a Christian in our world feel more joyful and more purposeful for many disciples, not only within his own tradition but also for very many of us who are of other Christian traditions.”