In a speech outlining a fresh, comprehensive vision for the future of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis reflected on the signs of the times and their intersection with our faith. Speaking to the national conference of the Italian Church, he stated, “Today, we are not living an epoch of change so much as an epochal change.” A subtle distinction, yet a provocative assertion.
In this statement, Pope Francis captures an important insight that can shape our lives. Locally and globally, there are deep and seismic changes in our culture, technology, media, economics, communication, political, and ecological systems.
Pope Francis states, “The situations that we are living today pose new challenges which, at times, are also difficult for us to understand. Our time requires us to live problems as challenges and not as obstacles.” Importantly, he reminds us, “The Lord is active and at work in our world.”
Pope Francis admonishes the Church to be humble in advancing solutions to issues we face together, stating “before the problems of the church it is not useful to search for solutions in conservatism or fundamentalism, in the restoration of obsolete conduct and forms that no longer have the capacity of being significant culturally.” Rather, we are called to be “implanted and rooted in Christ, allowing the Church to be led by the Spirit.”
Pope Francis suggests three traits as a foundation for our meditation and action, as we live into this changing era. We are called to “humility”—surrendering our obsession with preserving our own glory and influence. We are called to “disinterest”—seeking the interest and fulfillment of others, rather than our own. We are called to “beatitude”—finding blessing and joy through poverty, mercy, and solidarity, as promised in Matthew 5.
We are advised to engage in dialogue and encounter. Not always easy or conflict free, Pope Francis encourages us: “Dialogue…is seeking the common good for all. Discussing together, I would dare say getting angry together, thinking about better solutions for all… Dialogue is always given to conflict…we must never fear it nor ignore it, but accept it,” in and with love.
Pope Francis declares, “A Church that presents these three traits—humility, disinterest, beatitude—is a church that is able to recognize the action of the Lord in the world, in culture, in everyday life of the people… I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.”
In his Christmas message, Pope Francis suggests three responses to the epochal change we face together:
- He invites us to rediscover the joy of the encounter with our God.
- He calls us to continual spiritual renewal.
- He commits us to actively engage in the transformation of the world.
Building on the theme for our Jubilee year 2025—we are challenged to be pilgrims of hope. “And this is our task: to bring hope into the different situations of life. For Christian hope is not a cinematic ‘happy ending’ which we passively await, but rather, a promise, the Lord’s promise, to be welcomed here and now in our world of suffering and sighs… Hope calls us to be upset with things that are wrong and to find the courage to change them.”
Indeed, we are living in a time of change—epochal change. Let us match that change with an equally intense renewal of faith and radical trust in God’s love and presence. Together, let us be propelled toward effective, courageous action of healing and restoration for the most vulnerable. Come Holy Spirit, come.
Janice Andersen
Director of Christian Life