To the theologians. What does Pope Francis want from you?

Catholics who, out of their love for Christ and his Church, have already had theological studies, or who are just trying to do so, may not realize that the mission which the Pope expects from them differs importantly from that which has always been understood to be the practice of theology. alternatively of solid science, theology is to be a kind of guardian of diversity.

Pope’s fresh Guidelines

On 28 November, the Holy See published "The Holy Father's Address to Participants of the Plenary Session of the global Theological Commission". Pope Francis, alongside many different incentives and indications, included specified statements:

"Therefore, with the encouragement to put Christ in the center, I would besides like to encourage you to consider the ecclesiological dimension, in order to better make the mission nonsubjective of synodity and participation of the full people of God, with its diversity of cultures and traditions. I would say that it is time to take a bold step: to make theology of synodality, a theological reflection that would help, stimulate, accompany the synodal process, for a fresh missionary stage, more creative and bold, which would be inspired by kerygma and affect all members of the Church."

The reader may be a small confused, due to the fact that due to the overcrowding of this passage with synodic jargon it is hard to full realize the author's intentions. However, there are any specifics I believe can be derived from these sentences. As we will see, it is about precisely the same ideas that have already appeared in at least 3 another very crucial speeches by the Pope about theology. The above quote so states:

– theology is to be in the service of synodality;

– should take into account the new, more subjective function of laymen in the Church;

– must mention to the diversity and context of local churches;

– 1 should realise the newness of the present times and take into account the request for a breakthrough in the theology.

The theologian of the Church of the Future

The serious treatment of words from Francis' speech to the Commission allows us to draw a brief description of the theologian of the future times. There will be a man for whom the Church will become constitutionally synodical, everyday and obvious. The theologian will not look back, seeking more hierarchical forms of functioning of the Church, but will treat synodality as a paradigm in which Catholicism functions. The synodal theologian will not focus so much on the authoritative Magisterium or the opinions of those who represent him; yes, although it may inactive be a mention point, it must become crucial for the synodal theologian to take into account the opinions of average believers, knowing their opinion as at least a possible locus theologicus, where theology draws its arguments. The dream theologian Francis will treat doctrine and morality as subject to constant inculturation – he will abandon the church's own past of divination of "monolithic" science, assuming that depending on the region doctrine and morality may have another consequences. Finally, seeing the newness of the era with Francis, she will not be afraid over what they have said or done to erstwhile generations, due to the fact that today's times are unique and so request unprecedented courage, creativity and openness to completely fresh solutions.

Specifically? The Catholic doctrine says that Holy Communion can be accepted by those who are in union with the Church, are in a state of sanctifying grace, confessing the fullness of Catholic faith. However, this is the general public; how boldly and courageously, in the missionary synodic perspective, taking into account the voice of God's people, can these general principles be adapted to the local context?

Specific Theological Service

In 2018, bishops in Germany prepared a paper in which they offered authoritative consent for Holy Communion to those Protestants who are married to a Catholic. They pointed out that fresh ecumenical times needed groundbreaking decisions. They wrote that the Church must not close itself and must besides go out to Protestants. They appealed to the experience of average people who wanted to receive Holy Communion together. Finally, they drew attention to the peculiar German context, marked by secularism and long-term cooperation between the Church and Protestant communities. The paper became the subject of discussion at the Vatican – and yet the Pope agreed that bishops should print it as a guide, recognising that they had the right to introduce their own solution in their country.

In 2018, the teaching of the Catholic Church on the conditions for accepting Holy Communion ceased to apply. German theologians – people of large courage and courage – have developed an first solution in this matter.

A fewer years later, Holy Communion was introduced in the Diocese of Osnabrück for all Protestants in general, whether they live with a Catholic in matrimony or not. Context, voice of the people, local needs and so on.

This is just 1 example of what's already happening. You could inactive replace it for a long time. The reader will forgive me for a brief reminder of the Fiducia supplicans case. Since December 18, 2023, any local churches have blessed LGBT couples and others have not. The Holy Father argues that doctrine is the same everywhere and that the assessment of homosexuality has not changed. However, in a country like Switzerland or Belgium, a blessed homosexual couple thinks – just as a blessed priest – that they are given approval from the Church to proceed their relation and to "use" intimately. Local context, needs, inculturation, finally, of course, so crucial courage and boldness...

The theologians have developed solutions – the author of "Fiducia supplicans", Cardinal Fernández, is simply a theologian. And not just any – in the summertime of 2023 Pope Francis personally encouraged him to walk in fresh ways, someway setting his Argentine compatriot as a model for another theologians. He explained to him that the theologian could not be satisfied with “theology grown at the desk”... "with a cold and harsh logic that strives to control everything," as he argued, "the reality surpasses the idea." He convinced Fernández that he had to support “various philosophical, theological and pastoral currents”, which would let for a better... defence of Christian doctrine. Fernández followed these indications: in "Fiducia supplicans", he undoubtedly took a completely different approach than his own office (Dicastery/Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith) adopted 2 years earlier in the exact same case. That's the harmony of theological diversity!

The Pope knows what he wants – and has said it for 11 years

If anyone has any further doubts about what the Pope wants... On 1 November (sic) 2023, Francis announced a short motu proprio "Ad theology promovendam". The paper shuffled with expressions specified as "exit from the concrete of life", "closeness to the people", "change of paradigm", the resignation of "abstract propositions of formulas and schemes from the past", the confronting of "deep cultural changes", "change of age", "a courageous cultural revolution", "return point", "contextuality", and yet "the work to cultivate theology in synod form". I urge curious people to read this text in its entirety; it is truly interesting and clearly indicates the dynamics that Francis is driving. In addition, the pope encouraged the dissolution of the induction method alternatively of the deductive one, i.e., the departure from the practice of theology circumstantial to St. Thomas utilizing Aristotle's reflection on what was developed among others by British empirists of the modern day. Not from all to all, but from item to all. With all the consequences as described above.

Little over a year, 3 clear interventions by Francis – speech, letter to the cardinal, motu proprio. Those who are amazed by the Holy Father's demands were, of course, a small late. In fact, everything was announced already in 2013, but then, even before observing the concrete effects of the Francisological revolution, fewer people wanted to realize it. In the endorsement of the “Evangelii Gaudium”, the pope wrote of the request to harmonise “the various philosophical, theological and pastoral currents” due to the fact that “diversity helps to show and deepen the various aspects of the inexhaustible riches of the Gospel”. Therefore, the dream of the “monolithic doctrine” should be moved away.

After only 3 years, he reiterated this very powerfully in the “Amoris laetitia”, stating that “not all doctrinal, moral or pastoral discussions should be resolved by Magisterium interventions”, due to the fact that although in the Church it is essential to “unify doctrines and actions”, there can be “various ways of interpreting certain aspects of teaching or any of the consequences thereof”, so as to “seek in each country or region more inculturation-related solutions” that would be “sensitive to local traditions and challenges”. He repeated precisely the same words in his "Nota" on 25 November, which summed up the effects of the Synod on Synodality.

In summary, the future theologian – if he decides to start studies in hopes of entering the authoritative church structures, academic career in Rome, participation in prestigious conferences under the patronage of bishops, Vatican etc. – must be aware of what awaits him. No longer seeking any cognition of God’s matters, but practicing theology that serves a concrete life, in a loose mention to Catholic doctrine. The theologian is already educated, well; this 1 may pass through life someway avoiding the paths of synodity; he may in any case try...

In the Synod Church of the Future, is it possible to practice theology the old, reliable, deductively, like St Thomas? possibly the local conditions of the Church in Poland will let for some, even limited, indult for lovers of pre-synodical theology.

Paweł Chmielewski