Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 89 No. 3, 2019.
Original scientific paper
The Prophetic Dimension of The Pontificate of Pope Francis – Ad Extra
Stjepan Brebrić
orcid.org/0000-0003-2368-1067
; Centre of the Christian Present, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The article is divided into two parts. In the first part, the prophetic dimension of the pontificate of Pope Francis ad extra is discussed in the universal prophetic perspective – Christian revolution of revolution – as a hope for the world. In the context of this more general topic, the Pope´s understanding of humanity on a historical turning point and a change of a historical epoch, various crisis characteristics of today´s world, society, and culture, especially cultural, social, and anthropological crisis, is discussed. Among individual topics, more attention is given to economy of exclusion and inequality, i.e., to socio-economic inequalities that mark today´s society. The main programmatic perspectives of the pontificate of Pope Francis are touched upon and the emphasis is put on the prophetic characteristic, such as the preferential option of the Church for the poor, culture of Christian mercy and solidary humanism. The globalisation of indifference is pointed out. This indifference strikes not only those who are excluded from society, culture, and economy, but all people devoid of the sense of empathy and ability to stand in solidarity with others. A special attention is given to Pope´s call to cultural revolution, the revolution of mercy and the globalisation of hope, to his advocacy for the integral and solidary human development in which the idea of Christian mercy would triumph over the all-present decadent humanism. In the second part, in a theological-pastoral evaluation, the starting points, perspectives, and inspirations of the prophetism of Pope Francis: contemplative-practical spirituality of discernment, radical following of Jesus Christ, kerygmatic Christology and historical soteriology, and teachings and guidelines of the Second Vatican Council are brought to the fore in the work of Latin American bishop conferences of post-conciliar period, theology of the people, social-cultural theology, and pragmatism of the social teaching of the Church.
Keywords
Pope Francis; prophetism; economy of exclusion; globalisation; culture; society; revolution; mercy; solidarity; integral human development; Christian humanism; theology of the people; spirituality of discernment; social teaching of the Church.
Hrčak ID:
229173
URI
Publication date:
3.12.2019.
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