Pope Francis is a 226th leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. He was chosen as the Pope by the Conclave in the 2013. He decided to take the name of Francis of Assisi, known for his revolutionary and progressive views. Peace, attention to others, listening skills are key features of Pope Francis' pontificate, says Acting Director of the Vatican Press Center Alessandro Gizotti in an interview with Vatican News on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of the pontificate. I suggest you read some changes and statements made by Pope Francis.
Source: https://international.la-croix.com/author/robert-mickens#
Pope Francis allowed to forgive the sin of abortion
In early September 2015, Pope Francis allowed priests of the Roman Catholic Church to forgive sin of abortion women and doctors who performed the operations during the so-called Jubilee Year, which was to begin on December 8 of that year.
According to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, abortion is such a grave sin that anyone who commits it is automatically excommunicated. Before the decision of Pope Francis, only the chief priest of the diocese could release this sin.
Simplified the divorce procedure
In September 2015, the Pope radically reformed the marriage annulment procedure for Catholics, allowing more Catholics to divorce and remarry without violating the church’s canons. Previously, marriage annulment was a confusing, expensive and lengthy process. It was inaccessible to many Catholics, especially in poor countries without marriage tribunals. The reform introduces an expedited cancellation procedure, if both spouses have no objection, allowing it to be carried out without the matrimonial tribunal. In addition, the system of automatic appeals is abolished. The Pope stated that the main purpose of the reform was to "save souls".
Created a committee that will consider women becoming deacons
On August 2, 2016, Pope Francis created a special commission to examine whether women should be allowed to become deacons in the Catholic Church. The commission includes seven men and six women. Members of the commission should, in particular, explore the historical role of women in the early years of the Catholic Church. The San Deacon is the first degree of the sacrament of the priesthood of the three possible Catholics (together with the priest and the bishop). Proponents of the possibility of women becoming a deacon insist that women are hardly represented in the Catholic Church. Being ordained as a deacon should give them a greater role in church decision making.
On August 2, 2016, Pope Francis created a special commission to examine whether women should be allowed to become deacons in the Catholic Church. The commission includes seven men and six women. Members of the commission should, in particular, explore the historical role of women in the early years of the Catholic Church. The San Deacon is the first degree of the sacrament of the priesthood of the three possible Catholics (together with the priest and the bishop). Proponents of the possibility of women becoming a deacon insist that women are hardly represented in the Catholic Church. Being ordained as a deacon should give them a greater role in church decision making.
He called for equal pay for men and women
In April 2015, Pope Francis, addressing tens of thousands of people at St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, called for equal pay for men and women. "Why does it take for granted that women should earn less than men? No! They have the same rights. The difference is a pure scandal," he said. The Pope also said that Christians should "strongly support the right to equal pay for equal work."
He agreed with the theories of evolution and the Big Bang
In October 2014, during a speech at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis stated that "God is not a wizard with a magic wand." "The big bang, which we consider today the source of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator, but rather requires it," the Pope stressed. According to him, the concept of creation is not contrary to evolution, because it requires "the creation of beings that evolve."
Questions:
What do you think about Pope Francis changes?
What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
Sources:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-is-synodality-experts-explain-60147
https://apnews.com/8a9c47baf0764ae683ec20a618dd4c63
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-women-deacons-commission-gave-split-report-their-role-early-church
https://time.com/3840049/pope-francis-equal-pay/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-9822514.html
In October 2014, during a speech at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Francis stated that "God is not a wizard with a magic wand." "The big bang, which we consider today the source of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator, but rather requires it," the Pope stressed. According to him, the concept of creation is not contrary to evolution, because it requires "the creation of beings that evolve."
Questions:
What do you think about Pope Francis changes?
What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
Sources:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/what-is-synodality-experts-explain-60147
https://apnews.com/8a9c47baf0764ae683ec20a618dd4c63
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-women-deacons-commission-gave-split-report-their-role-early-church
https://time.com/3840049/pope-francis-equal-pay/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-declares-evolution-and-big-bang-theory-are-right-and-god-isnt-a-magician-with-a-magic-9822514.html
Comments
I never heard about them and with all of them I agree.
What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
I think there should be revolution as many things works in a very bad way.
Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
Yes but there is still a lot to do in order to like catholic way :)
2. I think the big and well-known problem of the church is pedophilia and hiding it. In addition, I think that they also face the problem of massive corruption and deals, as does every major institution.
3. I think the direction the church goes is good and only if it wants to keep its followers.
The Pope has tremendous power in his hands. If he will correctly dispose of it, and do good things, then it will be great. As you can see, Pope Francis also succeeded in many ways. Of course, I have a lot of questions for religious institutions. But overall not bad anymore. Especially the fact of equal pay for women and men. A great step that allows him to be closer to the people.
What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
Well, religious institutions as a whole have very large leverage. This is a large social structure, which has a lot of followers around the world. It seems to me that if you want, the church can solve any social issue in the region, and indeed at the global level, too.
Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
Unfortunately I do not follow the changes that are taking place in the Catholic Church, only if I do not come across the news in the news feed. I’ll just hope that all changes are really made for the benefit of man and society as a whole.
2. All of which were caused by the Church in the first place, with its outdated doctrines, prejudices and views that just create confusion in a modern society.
3. I think my answer to the previous question covers this one as well.
2. I think these are moral issues that affect everyone individually. Tolerateness, politeness, deception, peace of mind, etc.
3. Excuse me, I don't go to church and I'm not interested in this topic.
2. I am not sure if the Catholic Church can solve some problems, maybe they should start coexist according to a secular law? In my opinion, Catholic Church finances should be transparent and priests should pay taxes as normal people and companies have to.
3. Yes, I think this is the right direction and I really respect Pope Francis for such courageous and radical decisions.
2. I think that at first Church should stop causing social problems by itself instead of focusing on solving others. The issue is that Catholic Church seems to focus too much on material lives of its followers instead of spirtual.
3. Personally, I think it is good that they adapt at all. Although I feel like they don't have another choice. What I would like from Church is to not interfere with lives of other people and with how the country is governed.
I believe that the changes introduced by the Pope are going in the right direction.
2. What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church should be more modern and listen to the faithful. People today are educated and no longer believe in everything that priests say. They should also solve the problem of pedophiles in the church.
3. Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
It's hard for me to say if it's going in the right direction. A lot of young people stopped going to church. In a few years it may turn out that the church will not have the faithful.
1. I don't follow the topic about the Catholic church, but I heard a lot of good words about Pope Francis. So he actually makes changes.
2. Deeper faith. Most people have no idea what the priest is talking about during mass. I have the impression that more and more people are moving away from faith or not practicing.
3. As I answered the first question, I do not follow the topic of the Catholic Church, but I guess and believe that changes are going in the right direction.
2. Nothing should be solved by the church. It's a relic of the past and we all should move away from religions if we want to evolve as a civilization and as a species.
3. I think it should be forgotten but at least they are trying to keep up.
I think that Pope Franciszek plays a very important role in the lives of many cultural groups in the world. His good heart and wisdom work great in his current role. I am glad that such a wise man stands at the head of the Catholic church. I think he has made great progress since the beginning of his reign. His actions are heading in the right direction.
2. What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
The Catholic Church has a huge impact on people. However, recently in Poland, the church is getting mixed up in politics, which I do not like. Pedophilia is a social problem, and maybe even an intracellular one. This problem should be solved by raising celibacy, which is a great challenge for most priests.
The Catholic Church as a province help in mediation between religions in the world.
3. Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
I definitely do not like the direction in which the church goes, but rather followed. Currently, I do not know which way it is heading and what it is heading for. What is its purpose? I think they don't know. Once, when there were so many educated people and the Internet, he played a very important role in providing information. Currently, the role is just slowly becoming unnecessary.
1. I think he is a good pope in comparison to his predecessor. He seem to be a human the most of all popes I've heared about.
2. I'm not sure if the church is that able to solve problems of society. First of all they should solve issues that lie inside their church.
3. I'm not very religious person, so I'm going to skip answering this.
2. I think that the Catholic Church should solve social problems within itself first, like antipathy to gay people, pedophilia or inequalities between men and women.
3. Yes, definitely. I think changes like this hasn't been happening in a long time and that's great that finally the Church is trying to adjust its doctrines.
2. The Catholic Church has a lot of problems (which I will not write about here, just turn on tv or internet), especially in our country. Some of them relate directly to the church, and some relate to its followers. I also don't think all these problems are solvable. More and more people in the world are beginning to understand that they do not need (any) religion for happiness, it is often associated with unnecessary restrictions and sacrifices.
3. I'm not interested in this topic. The changes are fine, but as I wrote earlier - not every problem can be easily solved.
2. Catholic Church shouldn't meddle into people life. This institution, like every other religion, is already obsolete.
3. I wish, Catholic Church stopped interfering with how people live. In past, when people couldn't explain many things, religion could play important role, but its time is long past due. Overall though, at least they're beginning to be more 'modern' and hinder people life less
2. The Catholic Church is losing its influence and is currently unable to change much. However, the pope can fight for equality between a woman and a man.
3. The church has started moving in the right direction since the pontificate of Francis, but much remains to be reformed. Unfortunately, the church is too conservative and even the Pope is unable to modernize it.
Actually, I'm not a Catholic, and if someone asked me yesterday who the Pope is now, I would not be able to answer. I am an Orthodox baptized person, I believe in God, but I do not recognize the church, I am a kind of agnostic.
Given all that the church has been doing since the first century of our era and ending with the twentieth and especially in the Middle Ages ... all these wars, genocides, the Inquisition. Under the pretext of "witchcraft" hundreds of thousands of innocent women were killed and after that they were persecuted for several centuries and only by the middle of the twentieth century were able to regain their rights.
I was in the Vatican in historical and archaeological terms, I liked it, but St. Peter's Basilica looks like a huge museum with many tourists, I liked some simple temples on the streets of Rome more, there was at least some kind of energy there. And why do all these cathedrals want such a luxury and wealth?
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
2.There are multiple social problems that could be solved by church, but as a woman I would like to see the porblem of sexual inequality being solved first. With the general idea forced on society that men are more important than females - with priests having more power than nuns and the saint mary being image of "the perfect woman" society often has unrealistic expectations toward girls rising them differently since the youngest years. Pope Francis advocating for equal pay for both genders is arleady a big step.
3. When we look at the catholic church as a global organisation and consider everything that's being done all around the world I got to admit I admire the way it's changing and fully respect following lately. But if we take a look at the way Poland is treating their believer I don't see the same spirit. It feels as if we don't exactly follow the same path as other countries do. Don't also forget about the influence that the church has on politics in our country despite the fact that those two should stay seperated.
I think he’s a very progressive person in the Catholic Church circle. He’s not afraid of speaking out loud and sharing his opinions with the public. Especially he doesn’t cover anything if he knows that the Church does something inappropriate.
What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
Abuse of minors.
Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
I don’t really follow the direction the Church is following globally. I am aware of most of the stunts that Church committed. What I don’t really like is the Church as an institution in Poland. Its impact on private living in the country is too big.
The Church should accept every person who believes, regardless of their sexual orientation. I think there’s still a problem with that, and I believe it shouldn’t be done this way.
I do. I’m not religious, but I think those changes affects the society as a whole, not only the believers.
2. In recent years, as far as I know, it does a lot in the fight against pedophilia.
3. I think that Franciszek is managing the Church quite well so far, but some of his statements are extremely inappropriate.
2)Currently Catholic Church devotes it’s finances and influence to humanitarian aid, as it actually was for a long time. I believe that Church should spread more awareness about vandalism against Christianity by refugees. Also there are still persecutions against christians in some developed countries, like China. I think these problems should be a number 1 priority.
3) In support of my previous statement. Strangely, but it seems like in 21 cent. we have a situation, when Christian culture in Europe is being threatened. I would like to see a bit dedication to this problem.
Pope Francis helps definitely moving state of Catholic Church to modern times. All these things, which he proposed are good for Church evolution and at the same time still makes it sharing the same believes and culture.
What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
Catholic Church, as I said before, must find the way to bring more people, due to crisis of faith. Pope's decisions are good way to become more friendly for newcomers .
Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
I'm catholic and all I want is to stop treating people who believe as someone else. Maybe we don't talk a lot about this, but due to speed of technology progression and social aspect, I think when admitting you believe you are sometimes on lost position.
2) Asking an atheist? The Catholic church should solve the catholic church.
3)No.
I think, above all, that the Pope has extraordinary power when it comes to the Catholic Church. These changes are certainly good for us and the Pope wants the best for all people.
2.What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
It is difficult to say what specific social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church. However, in my opinion it should look more modernly at the world around us. Times have changed very quickly, not necessarily in the right direction. The church should change its attitude, especially among young people who become more and more sceptical about its views.
3.Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
Yes, I think it is a good direction that the Catholic Church is following. However, this is certainly a questionable issue and depends on people, since each person has different views, especially younger people.
Everyone has their own concept of the world, Pope Francis has his own which is good, therefore I support what he does. He is a good man.
2. What social problem should be solved by the Catholic Church?
Maybe not necessarily by the church, but certainly the social division, whether in Europe or outside of religion, shouldn't be this way.
3.Do you like the direction the Catholic Church is following?
Generally, I don't agree with the theories and the attitude of the church, there are only small exceptions with which I agree.