Perspectief 2014-26

Perspectief 44 Prof. dr. Peter De Mey A similar idea, emphasizing the uniqueness of each believers’ contribution to the ecclesial life, is found in Lumen Fidei and is therefore perhaps an addition by pope Francis: The image of a body does not imply that the believer is simply one part of an anonymous whole, a mere cog in a great machine; rather, it brings out the vital union of Christ with believers and of believers among themselves (cf. Rom 12:4-5). Christians are "one" (cf. Gal 3:28), yet in a way which does not make them lose their individuality; in service to others, they come into their own in the highest degree. (§ 22) Catholicity 2: Reforming the Church with greater attention to unity in diversity The ideas on reform of pope Francis are also deeply rooted in Vatican II. It is highly meaningful that the first reference to the documents of the Council in Evangelii Gaudium is § 6 of the decree on ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio : “Every renewal of the Church essentially consists in an increase of fidelity to her own calling… Christ summons the Church as she goes her pilgrim way… to that continual reformation of which she always has need, in so far as she is a human institution here on earth”. (§ 26) In the Jesuit interview the pope clearly warns that reforming the Church takes time – time for discernment, and he also revealed his intention to follow the example of Pope John XXIII, who implemented his huge project of aggiornamento by making a few well-chosen small steps. 5 Pope Francis’ proposal of ecclesial renewal pertains to the entire Church. In a subsection of the first chapter of Evangelii Gaudium entitled ‘An ecclesial renewal which cannot be deferred’ (§§ 27-33) the pope deliberately first pays attention to the smallest level of the parish, to end up with the papacy itself. I follow the same order, but I will regularly also integrate insights found in sources other than Evangelii Gaudium . - Pope Francis expresses the diversity of viewpoints at the level of the parish by speaking about the parish as “a community of communities.” (§ 28) Having lived so long in Latin-America, the pope, however, immediately also considers “other 5 Cf. also the reflection on time and space in Lumen Fidei (§ 57) – “Time is always much greater thans pace. Space hardens processes, whereas time propels towards the future and encourages us to go forward in hope.” – and Evangelii Gaudium (§§ 222-225), where the Pope states a.o.: “Giving priority to time means being concerned about initiating processes rather than possessing spaces.” (§ 223)

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