The discomfort among some Catholics caused by Pope Francis' frank
comments in his recent interview with Jesuit publications should become a
source of personal reflection, according to a prominent Italian
sociologist.
“It is always useful to try to understand, to transform even the
discomfort into cultural and political reflection, rather than keeping
it in and later spitting it out as poison, as is the case with so many
angry comments that now proliferate on the Internet,” Massimo
Introvigne, a sociologist of religion, wrote in a letter to the editor
of Il Foglio, an Italian daily.
In addition to being a noted sociologist and author, Introvigne is the
founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New
Religions, a group of scholars from around the globe who study new
religious movements.
He is the main author of the Encyclopedia of
Religions in Italy and has worked with both the Italian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in
Europe on matters of religious liberty and persecution.
He is also a leading member of Alleanza Cattolica, a movement which
aims to study and to diffuse the Church's social doctrine. His letter
can be read in an English translation at CNA in full here.
In his letter, Introvigne highlighted the great continuity between Pope
Francis and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, explaining that when reading
an interview of a Pope, one must remember that the medium itself –
interviews – can be easily misunderstood.
“The way of expressing oneself in an interview is not the same as in an
encyclical. It is much easier to find sentences susceptible to being
pulled out of context and thrown maliciously onto the front page,” he
wrote.
The scholar observed that two main subjects which have caused
irritation among the faithful are Pope Francis' comments on the
extraordinary form, or Traditional Latin Mass; and his insistence that
the Church “cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay
marriage and the use of contraceptive methods.”
Regarding the Traditional Latin Mass, Introvigne noted that while
Benedict XVI did want to present the riches of this rite to the entire
Latin Church and Pope Francis’ comments seem to portray this effort as
an attempt to reach small, marginal groups, the current and former Roman
Pontiffs are agreed in believing that the Traditional Latin Mass must
not be exploited as the center of ideological rejection of the Second
Vatican Council.
Introvigne noted that with respect to “life issues,” Pope Francis
realizes that “in a world very far from the faith,” he must “begin again
from the first announcement” of the Gospel.
“It isn’t that the moral proclamation isn’t part of the Christian
message, nor that Francis is thinking about changing doctrine,” the
sociologist said. “But moral teaching for the Pope comes after the
proclamation of salvation through the mercy of God.”
Rather than accepting the battle ground of morals chosen by
secularizing forces, he said, Pope Francis “announces compassion and
mercy.”
“Others, who are also uncomfortable about their strategies and
priorities, may also permit themselves to be enthused by the heart of
the Magisterium of Pope Bergoglio, the invitation to 'go out' and
proclaim the faith to those who don’t go to church,” Introvigne wrote.
“That the world needs so many things, but that without the faith one
cannot survive, was – after all – also the greatest teaching of Benedict
XVI.”