Can the New Pope face all these Challenges?

 Catholics, numbered over 1,165,714,000 (about 1.2 billion) which is, approximately, one out of every six of the global population. They remain half of the total Christians. In the first Holy Mass Pope Francis invited everyone to be true disciple of Jesus Christ. The Church, of which the real head is Christ, needs a serious guidance of the Vicar of Christ the visible head, according to the principles on which Jesus founded it.

 Before the beginning of the Conclave in March 2013, during the discussion of the General Assembly of the Cardinals, they discussed about the major challenges of the Church of today. ‘Governance’ seems to have been the main theme of this time, whereas at the time of election of Pope Ratzinger, it was ‘continuity’.

 The most important duty of the Vicar of Christ is to confirm everyone in faith. When we look around the globe, it is certain that the Catholic Church faces complex realities. A century ago, 70% Catholics lived in Europe and North America. Today it is just 32%, less than one third of the total. The West always had a significant role in the history of Christianity. But unfortunately, not many baptized Catholics practice their faith though they claim to be believers. Even though in the last years, the theme ‘New Evangelization’ has taken a momentum, tangible results are yet to come out. More than 42% of the Catholics belong to the Latin America. But it is disheartening to see the decrease in the number of the Catholics there because of their migration to the new Pentecostal movements. The sex-scandals have really affected the growth of the Church in North America, Scotland and other parts of the world. Healing the wounds of the affected, bringing the new hope to the depressed, lighting a candle in the darkness caused by the hatred, enkindling the original zeal and enthusiasm would be herculean tasks of the Servant of Servants, who represents the HEALER on earth.

 The major religions with which dialogue is needed, the cultures with which we must engage, the poor and oppressed that require liberation, are the major problems in Asia and Africa. Despite the fact that Asia and Africa represent the fastest-growing Catholic communities in the world, both these continents are yet to come to the main stream of the universal ecclesiastical concerns. For giving them the deserved attention, the New Pontiff will have to toil hard. Among the Asian countries, China needs special attention especially in diplomatic relation to build up friendly atmosphere with the communist government. Though the task in India is much easier compared to other places, All India Jurisdiction and freedom for evangelization of all the three sui iuris Churches would not be less important issues to be solved by the New Pope. Though Christianity got birth in the Middle East of Asia, this minority community struggles for its existence, between the civil wars and oppression from the other religions.  

Just as the Pope is the Successor of Peter, so also the Bishops are the continuation of the twelve Apostles. Together with them in collegiality, he must govern the Church. The Roman Pontiff is the point of reference of unity that will knit the college of Bishops in an ideal manner. Above all, Pope Francis will need a delicate art to govern the Church when there is also the physical presence of the Pope Emeritus.

Governance, shadowed down by Vatileaks and related issues, Pope Francis may have to take extra effort for a transparent and clean administration. Before the conclave, the cardinals reported to have discussed about the activities of the Holy See and its relations with Bishops throughout the world; Collegiality; a better management of the Vatican Curia and of Vatican finances especially the management of the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR). The Assembly also gave amble importance for the themes like the renewal of the Church in light of Vatican Council II; the Church's position and the need for the New Evangelization in today's world with its diverse cultural environments; justice in the world; the importance of the Church proclaiming a positive message of love and mercy, etc. The Church needs to continue with its power and vigour, on the issues on ecumenism, relations with other Christian communities, interreligious dialogue, the Church's charitable efforts, contemporary culture, bioethics, the role of women in the Church, etc with due importance. 

 Among those who do not know the Gospel and the Church, the power and positions lead to misconception that the Church is merely earthly power entrapped with political and financial issues. Taking the lead together with the world religious leaders, to continue to be the moral voice of the humanity, the Pope will need to be clearly communicating the moral principles understanding the needs of the time. Though the title Patriarch of the West is not used from 2005, the Pope, the Symbol of unity will have to bring together all the Catholic and Non-Catholic Eastern Churches as solemnly proclaimed by the Second Vatican Council. World social issues such as poverty, oppression, discrimination, injustice, inequality, destroyed families, live-in relationship, de facto unions, gay marriages, abortion, relativism, secularism, consumerism, materialism and individualism, etc are not trivial issues to be tackled. Celibacy of priests, women priesthood could be also issues from within the Church that the Pope may have to face.

In the world of gains, careers, finances, scandals, showing THE WAY to the younger generation would not be as easy as it appears to be. Leading the men and women to God of Bible is the supreme and fundamental duty of the Servant of Servants. Hence his true mission is to revive the Christian faith where it is almost extinguished and to propagate it where it has not yet arrived.

 Can the New Pope face all these challenges by himself? Everyone looks at him for a node, guidance, encouragement, a good word, correction, direction and decision. He is looked at to be living model of the real Christian faith. It is our ardent prayer and heartfelt wish that the new Pope, a true man of God, be the protagonist of the true colour and image of the church. Sure, the Vicar of Christ is challenged to be like Jesus.  St. Francis Assisi is known to be the second Christ. The follower of Francis Assisi Pope Francis, if rightly accomplish this mission of Christ will emerge to be a ‘third Christ’ or a ‘second Francis Assisi’ in the modern world.

 

Fr. Francis Eluvathingal

Chancellor, Kalyan Diocese