Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 87 No. 1, 2017.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
The Mind-set of Pastoral Workers and the Pontificate of Pope Francis
Josip Baloban
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
In the article the author firstly situates the pontificate of Pope Francis in the historical kontext of the 21st century, while, at the same time, he points out that the Pope brings to mind, in many things, what is associated with Jesus and the Gospel, and although the historical context of the Pope is different in some things from the times in which Jesus of Nazareth lived, what is essential and original in terms of divine-human is common to both. After that, the author analyses and presents Pope Francis in a concise way as a pope of an atypical pontificate, whose behaviour cannot be easily compared with any of his predecessors in the second part of the 20th century, although he often refers to them. This atypicality is recognisable not only in the Pope’s atypical-conventional behaviour, but also in his speech and writing ad intra and ad extra, which include, beside inner-ecclesial and ecumenical issues, also all current acute problems of the world that, at least to some extent, were not a part of a pontifical agenda before him. Of course, Pope Francis is also confusing in the area of ecumenism – to the faithful in his own Church, as well as to the faithful in other Churches. One of the biggest confusions of various extents is the founding of the mixed committee for canonisation of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. In the second part of the article the author writes about the mind-set of European pastoral workers and Christians in general. Although European pastoral workers are in the focus of this part of analysis and critical evaluation, it also refers to other Christians of the world (including pastoral workers) insofar as they behave according to a surpassed pastoral care model that is removed from Jesus and the Gospel. In this sense, the author presents the Pope’s view on those difficulties that can(not) be surpassed in reference to today’s pastoral workers. For instance, Pope Francis is aware of the burden of elements of the past and useless traditions in the current historical Church of Christ, precisely because these are far removed from Jesus and the Gospel. In other words, he is aware that there is a lot of ash in the historical Jesus’ Church that covers the fire of the Gospel. Furthermore, the Pope is aware of the present and discernable tiredness among all and especially among European pastoral workers and Christians in general. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Bishop of Rome, i.e. Pope Francis, is constantly prompting everyone to live and witness authentic Jesus-like and Gospel-like face of the Church in the 21st century. Finally, it is not surprising that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is publicly acknowledging that Pope Francis is »new freshness in the Church, new joy, new charisma that touches people, that this is something beautiful«.
Ključne riječi
Jesus; Gospel; Church; Pope Francis; pontificate; mind-set; pastoral worker
Hrčak ID:
181560
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.5.2017.
Posjeta: 1.415 *