A COMMENT REGARDING AN EARLIER ARTICLE CAPTURES MY ATTENTION

In an earlier article, “More About Pope Francis’ View of the Reality of Hell", I wrote the following:

Apparently, Pope Francis is comfortable living in an existential reality wherein not all things are perfectly understandable or clear -- a reality so different and distinct from traditional Catholic experience.

I received a number of comments, both positive and negative, about this.

On the positive side, most commented that they were very comfortable with what Pope Francis has been trying to achieve in moving the Church forward and being more responsive to moral and religious challenges faithful Catholics encounter in the modern world.

On the negative side, most comments center on the fear of division Pope Francis was introducing by his initiatives.

While I disagree with the premise that Pope Francis’ intent is to sow confusion and division within the ranks of the faithful, the observations of one commentator caught my attention.

I offer here direct quotes from one of the comments I received.

In theory, all the Vatican media should work in concert in transmitting to the world the faithful image of the Pope.

But in practice this is not what happens.

Oftentimes, Pope Francis does it all on his own in communicating with the world, without orchestrating anything with anyone.

 And he does so in at least three ways:

– by saying in public and in person what he wants, without going through any precautionary check or inspection;

– by having others say in public what he says to them in private conversations;

– by promoting persons who say what he himself does not say either in public or in private, but is happy to have said.

Again, the gist of the comment was to disparage the Holy Father.  But, I must agree that the writer appears to have gotten it correct in outlining the modus operandi of Pope Francis as he speaks to the Church and to the world.

Whether or not this strategy is in the best interest of the Church will be the work of the Holy Spirit and the judgment of future generations of the Church.

In any case, I am grateful to the writer  for the insight he has provided:  this does appear to be the way the Pope gets his message out!