Pope Francis grants an exclusive interview to the Catholic ‘”America Magazine” during which he answers an enormous range of questions, including topics regarding the US, Church issues, social issues, the war in Ukraine, the Vatican’s relations with China, and his pontificate.
By Vatican Recent staff reporter
On Monday the US Catholic America Magazine published a wide-ranging interview with Pope Francis, marking the primary time that the Pope has agreed to an interview with the editors of an American journal.
The interview was held on November 22 at his Vatican residence at Santa Marta and was conducted in Spanish by five representatives of the American Jesuit magazine including its outgoing editor in chief, Fr.Matt Malone, S.J., and Fr. Sam Sawyer, S.J., the incoming editor in chief Questions ranged from polarization within the U.S. Church, racism, Church teaching on the ordination of ladies, his stance on social issues, the war in Ukraine, the Vatican’s relations with China and his pontificate.
I’m completely happy because I feel God at my side
Fr. Malone, S.J introduced the interview by asking Pope Francis what makes him so peaceful and completely happy in his ministry. The Pope answered that being with people has at all times given him great joy, and that what makes him feel completely happy is having the peace of mind that “God is at his side”. “Throughout my life – he said – He has at all times guided me on His path, sometimes in difficult moments, but there’s at all times the peace of mind that one doesn’t walk alone”.
Polarization is just not Catholic
Pope Francis was then asked by Fr. Sawyer, S.J. concerning the growing polarization of political life in the USA and even within the US Catholic Church itself.
The Holy Father warned against the hazards of ideological partisanship in society, but especially inside the Church, noting that US society too has some “ideological Catholic groups”. “Polarization is just not Catholic“, he stressed. “A Catholic cannot think either-or ( aut-aut) and reduce the whole lot to polarization. The essence of what’s Catholic is both-and (et-et)”. He recalled that Jesus went beyond the divisions among the many Jews of the time between the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes and the Zealots proposing the Beatitudes, that are also something different
Bishops and Bishops’ Conferences
Pope Francis was also asked concerning the growing distance between the Bishops’ Conference and the Catholic faithful within the US on faith and morals. On this regard he emphasized the crucial role of individual bishops, fairly than the collective bodies of bishops, and of their pastoral relation with their flock, noting that bishops’ conference are organizations “meant to help and unite, a logo of unity. “Jesus – he said – didn’t create bishops’ conferences. Jesus created bishops”
One other sensitive issue discussed in the course of the interview was that of abortion, which has been particularly divisive also within the Catholic Church within the U.S..
Abortion mustn’t be politicized
Asked if the bishops should prioritize abortion in relation to other social justice issues, Pope Francis again insisted on sacramental dimension of this delicate issue which, he stressed, “must not be politicized and on the pastoral role of every bishop, which “can’t be delegated to the bishops’ conference”.
The issue arises when this reality of killing a human being is transformed right into a political query, or when a pastor of the church uses political categories. (…)
The sacramental a part of the pastoral ministry is in the connection between the pastor and the people of God, between the bishop and his people. And this can’t be delegated to the bishops’ conference.
Child abuse is a monstruosity
Pope Francis was then asked concerning the ongoing abuse crisis within the Church and concerns over the Vatican transparency policies in light of latest recent cases involving bishops. On this regard the Pope noted that “for the reason that Church made the choice to not cover up [anymore] cases”, progress has been made against the “monstruosity” of kid abuse. He mentioned particularly the Meeting on the Protection of Minors within the Church he convened within the Vatican from 21-24 February 2019, and creation of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
He recalled that “the leader in taking these decisions was Benedict XVI”, and that this crime “is a ‘recent’ problem in its manifestation, but everlasting in that it has at all times existed” in all spheres of society, ranging from the family. Some extent he had already identified in the course of the 2019 Vatican Summit on child abuse.
Pope Francis due to this fact reiterated that the Church is decided “to go forward in taking responsibility for its own sin” with “seriousness and with shame”, and “with equal transparency”.
Everyone knows my stance on the war in Ukraine
The Holy Father was then asked concerning the his position on the war in Ukraine, and specifically on why he’s is seemingly unwilling to directly criticize Russia, the aggressor.
He explained that : Sometimes I try to not specify in order to not offend and fairly condemn generally, even though it is well-known whom I’m condemning. It is just not mandatory that I put a reputation and surname.
He then recalled his personal efforts to finish the conflict and to support Ukraine: from his visit to the Russian embassy in Rome on the second day of the war, on February 25, his two phone calls to Ukrainan President Volodymir Zelensky, his interventions to free prisoners of war on either side, and likewise his desire to go to each Kyiv and Moscow . He insisted that naming explicitly Putin “is just not mandatory”.
Everyone knows my stance, with Putin or without Putin, without naming him.
Pope Francis further recalled that he has sent two Cardinals several times to Ukraine and Archbishop Gallagher , the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations to bring the Holy See’s solidarity and humanitarian relief to the Ukrainian people.
He also mentioned the recent commemoration by the Holy See of the Holodomor, the
genocide that Stalin committed against the Ukrainians (in 1932-33 which, he said, is an historical antecedent of the [present] conflict.
The Pope insisted that The position of the Holy See is to hunt peace and to hunt an understanding” and is “is at all times willing to mediate”.
Near Black people suffering racism
Pope Francis then spoke concerning the issue of racism, which some Catholics within the US don’t feel as a priority, causing many Black Catholics to feel neglected by the Church. Asked what he would say to Black Catholics to encourage them, Pope Francis said he would tell them that he “near the suffering they’re experiencing, which is a racial suffering and on this [in this situation], those that should indirectly be near them are the local bishops.
He also took the chance to say that that he also loves “very much the Indigenous peoples of the USA” and the numerous Latinos living within the US .
The Church is woman
One other issue discussed in the course of the interview was that ladies’s priestly ordination. The Pope explained that it’s a theological query that concerns the ministerial dimension (ministerialidad) of the lifetime of the church, that of the Petrine Church. Nonetheless he said “The Church is greater than a ministry: Aside from the Petrine principle there’s one other principle that remains to be more vital, that’s the Marian principle, which is the principle of femininity (femineidad) within the church, of the lady within the church, where the church sees a mirror of herself because she is a lady and a spouse. The Pope also mentioned a 3rd way: the executive way. On this field, he said “I think we’ve got to provide more room to women”, noting that even within the Roman Curia the Church has progressed in giving more responsibilities to women.
Criticism to market capitalism draw from the Gospel
Pope Francis was then asked about his frequent criticisms of market capitalism, for which some call him a Marxist. “I attempt to follow the Gospel”, the Pope replied. “I’m much enlightened by the Beatitudes, but above all by the usual by which we can be judged” he said recalling the Gospel of Matthew 25. ‘I used to be thirsty, and also you gave me a drink. I used to be in prison, and also you visited me. I used to be sick and also you cared for me.’”. “Is Jesus a communist, then?” he asked, remarking that the issue that’s behind this… is the socio-political reduction of the Gospel message.”
Dialoguing with China despite failures
Finally, Pope Francis was asked about Vatican’s relations with Communist China, with regards to the Holy See’s Agreement with Beijing on the appointment of bishops, and about his alledged silence on human rights in China. On this point Pope Francis said “It is just not a matter of speaking or silence”, but fairly if “to dialogue or to not dialogue”. “With China I even have opted for the best way of dialogue” even “whether it is slow”, he said citing the late Cardinal Agostino Casaroli’s Ostpolitik diplomacy in the course of the Cold War “ model”. He also reiterated that Chinese people deserve his respect, because they’re people of great wisdom.
