It’s no secret that some Catholics in the United States, and in other parts of the world, are uncomfortable with the current pope’s emphasis on poverty, migrants and people who live on the “peripheries” of social acceptance. In his recent address to members of the Papal Foundation, the Holy Father said:
Sadly, we see more and more in our own day how the unity of the Church is wounded by division. And the devil is a specialist in fighting against unity; he is a specialist! This is often caused by the influence of ideologies and movements that while at times well intentioned, end up fomenting parties and criticism, with each one developing a certain superiority complex when it comes to insight into the authentic practice of the faith.
Pope Francis strongly rejects what he calls “a superiority complex” which he equates with hypocrisy—the attitude assumed by Pharisees and other religious leaders in the Gospels. Jesus did not tolerate smugness or self-righteousness in his day, and Pope Francis regularly rebukes those clergy, religious and lay people in the Church who portray themselves as “holier-than-thou” instead of showing the same understanding and compassion that Jesus asks of all his disciples.
The pope’s call to “foster unity” in our increasingly divided Church and world demands a degree of tolerance and understanding that does not mean “anything goes,” but rather challenges us as missionary disciples who follow Jesus Christ to be merciful and non-judgmental.
In addition to fostering unity, Pope Francis says that “transparency” is an essential feature of papal ministry. For the past 10 years, Pope Francis has worked to make the Vatican more accountable in its finances and in its decision making. The pope is the first to admit that while progress has been made, much work remains.
In his address, the pope underscored the importance of transparency:
As you are aware, the Holy See has been making strides in these past years to guarantee that the services provided to the Universal Church and to society in general by its various Dicasteries, Institutions and Offices is carried out with appropriate transparency. This is especially important in its service of charity, which relies on the good will and generosity of so many people around the world. While not comparable to the immense harm resulting from the failure to protect the most vulnerable from various forms of abuse, financial scandals caused by a lack of oversight and transparency also damage the good name of the Church and can call into question the credibility of the faith itself, even if such thinking is always misguided.
Financial scandals can also destroy the Church’s credibility as a responsible steward of resources entrusted to the Church’s care.
Unity and transparency are not easy to achieve or maintain. That’s why Pope Francis calls on the Holy Spirit to accompany him, and all who work to assist him, in carrying out his ministry as pope.
Daniel Conway
