Pope Francis Explained

Posted on 25. Sep, 2014, in Christian Values, Church TeachingsComments Off on Pope Francis Explained

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Almost everyone is struck by the new approach that Pope Francis takes to theology. Here Gerry Whelan SJ explains to Pat Coyle how his approach can be understood by going back to his roots as a priest in Argentina. Using the terms inductive and deductive theology, he examines how Pope Francis takes culture and context into consideration without losing the need for centralised input. Pope Francis, he says, stresses the need to constantly listen and examine without always defaulting to dogma. Or as he recalls a Catholic at a meeting in Rome summed it up by saying, “I like this Pope because he criticises the Church.”