During the 2015 World Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican, many of us were able to see that disagreements abound in the church. But in all of the disagreements, I could see Pope Francis adopting the same leadership style as Pope John Paul II, and that was to try to fight discord with charity, to promote brotherly unity above all, and to speak for mercy and charity. In my opinion, both St. John Paul II and Pope Francis are Christ figures.
In the 1960s, we saw similar discord during the Second Vatican Council, when some disagreed with the direction that the church was moving in. We have to keep in mind that we must respect the sincere convictions of others, even if we disagree with them. No one should be subject to coercion of any kind when it comes to following his or her conscience.
But we have to also keep in mind that we have seen that the church can develop and change with time. The Second Vatican Council taught us that this change is only possible in our traditions, not in the church’s solemn dogmas.
For example, the teaching that Jesus Christ is true God and true man will never change, but our understanding of the role of women in the church is a tradition that is evolving. How far that change will go remains to be seen.
Ecumenism is another example of new thinking in the church. Vatican II council fathers debated the reunification of the Christian churches because Jesus wanted unity.
We have to accept that within the church, we have a lot of different views. Some people view the church as an authoritative, absolute monarchy. Others understand authority to be a collegial service. The authority of the pope and bishops is sometimes seen as a service to be implemented in a collegial way. The 2015 synod in Rome tried to work to achieve this ideal, not without controversy.
But no one has ever claimed that the church is a democracy, which would mean its leadership is guaranteed by the majority. The fact is that the pope is in charge and, therefore, the outcome of this synod has never been in doubt.
Some unenlightened Catholics have accused Pope Francis of creating discord by his leadership style and his outreach to all of God’s people. But we shouldn’t worry.
Instead, we should be at peace with the leadership style of Pope Francis. We are all in the hands of a good shepherd. The Synod of Bishops, even with all of its controversy, will, in the end, produce good fruit.
