To clearly reaffirm not “the ideal” of the
family, but its rich and complex reality, in order to reflect on love in the
family together with the women and men of our time. With this purpose in mind,
on 19 March, the Solemnity of St Joseph, Pope Francis signed the Post-synodal
Apostolic Exhortation
Amoris Laetitia .
The highly anticipated document, presented in the Holy See Press Office on
Friday morning, 8 April, speaks the language of experience, offering an open
and profoundly positive outlook, which feeds not on abstractions or ideal
projections, but on pastoral attention to reality. The text, laden with
spiritual points and practical wisdom suitable to every couple and to those
people who hope to build a family, was the fruit of practical collaboration
with people who have experienced many years of family life.
The
vast Exhortation is divided into nine chapters and more than 300 paragraphs
which include the results of the two synods on the family convened by Pope
Francis in 2014 and 2105. The concluding reports of the two conferences are
largely cited, along with documents and teachings of his predecessors, and the
Pontiff’s own catecheses on the family. As he has done previously in other
circumstances, the Pope also drew from the contributions of various episcopal
conferences – among them those of Kenya, Australia and Argentina – and quoted
personages such as Martin Luther King and Erich Fromm, along with cues from the
world of cinema, such as Francis’ nod to the film
Babette’s Feast to
explain the concept of truly free giving.
The
prologue of
Amoris Laetitia is especially meaningful, highlighting the
complexity of the issues and the need for continued open discussion. It is in
fact the fruit of the interventions of the Synod Fathers, which have composed a
“multifaceted gem” for further reflection. In this regard the Pope makes clear
that “not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral
issues need to be settled by
interventions of the magisterium”. Thus, for some issues, an individual country
or region “can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its
traditions and local needs. For ‘cultures are in fact quite diverse and every
general principle… needs to be inculturated, if it is to be respected and
applied’”. But Francis seeks to invite an immediate escape from the sterile
juxtaposition between fear of change and the pure and simple application of abstract
rules. “The debates carried on in the
media, in certain publications and even among the Church’s ministers”, he
writes, “range from an immoderate desire for total change without sufficient
reflection or grounding, to an attitude that would solve everything by applying
general rules or deriving undue conclusions from particular theological
considerations”.
Text of the Apostolic Exhortation
…
(Vatican Radio) The Papal Foundation announced to Pope Francis today it will give $10 million US to support his charitable work around the world. Members of the Foundation enjoyed an audience with the Holy Father in the course of their pilgrimage to Rome which also coincides with the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Listen to Alexander MacDonald’s report:
“We are called by Christ to share this mercy,” said Pope Francis, “with those who are spiritually and materially in need through the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.” We do this with a spirit of generosity and tenderness that reflects God’s immeasurable goodness, he added.
He thanked the Papal Foundation for having the works of mercy at the heart of its mission and for generously supporting diocesan, parish and community projects around the world.
“Your charity reverberates throughout the world,” Pope Francis said, “offering new initiatives that help to extend the merciful embrace of the Father.”
The Papal Foundation was set up by US clergy and laity in 1988 as a sustainable way to support the Holy Father’s charitable priorities. Income generated from the $215 million fund creates a perpetual source of revenue but the fund does not invest in any companies that engage in activities inconsistent with the Catholic faith.
More than $15 million were distributed in 2015 for housing, hospitals, educational institutions and pro-life programs around the world. Since 1988 more than $121 million have been awarded.
Pope Francis concluded by praying that members of the Papal Foundation experience a new impetus to holiness on their pilgrimage, and above all, the gift of God’s mercy.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The Pontifical Council Cor Unum has released a press statement concerning the collection for Ukraine announced by Pope Francis:
“During the Regina Coeli of Sunday, 3 April, the Holy Father announced an extraordinary initiative in favor of those who are suffering the consequences of violence in Ukraine. To this end it, a collection is expected to be taken in churches in Europe on Sunday, 24 April. The proceeds from the collection will be added to a significant amount of money made available by the Holy Father which will benefit both residents in the affected areas and internally displaced persons. The Pontifical Council Cor Unum is responsible for evaluating and approving the technical management of the funds, according to local projects reviewed by a special committee. By the end of April, a mission to Ukraine by Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, the Secretary of Cor Unum, is foreseen.”
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis sent a message offering his support for a conference at the United Nations in New York discussing modern slavery and human trafficking. The conference (on April 7th) was organized by the Santa Marta Group and in his message to the participants the Pope encouraged them to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and communication which are essential for ending the suffering of the victims of those who are trafficked.
Please find below the Pope’s message sent to Archbishop Bernardito Auza, the Holy See’s permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York:
“I extend greetings to you and to all those gathered to discuss the grave issue of modern slavery and human trafficking, which continues to be a scourge throughout the world today. I am grateful to you and the members of the “Santa Marta Group” for your efforts in organizing this conference, and to the Member States and various governmental, civic and religious organizations committed to combatting this crime against humanity. As you reflect on the multifaceted issues which contribute to modern slavery and human trafficking. I encourage you to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and communication which are essential to ending the suffering of the many men, women and children who today are enslaved and sold as if they were a mere commodity. In this way, solutions and preventative measures can be promoted which will allow this evil to be addressed at every level of society. In your discussions, I hope also that you will keep before you the dignity of every person, and recognize in all your endeavours a true service to the poorest and most marginalized of society, who too often are forgotten and have no voice. In assuring you and all present of the steadfast commitment of the Catholic Church to fight against this crime and to care for all its victims, I offer the promise of my prayers that Almighty God may bless and guide your efforts.”
Franciscus PP.
With gratitude for your valued assistance, I am Yours sincerely in Christ
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis ’ post-Synodal Exhortation , Amoris Laetitia , on “The Joy of Love”, was officially released to the public at noon on Friday. Presenting the highly anticipated document in the Press Office of the Holy See were Cardinals Lorenzo Baldisseri – Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops – and Christoph Schönborn – Archbishop of Vienna and a leading Father of both the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2014 and the Ordinary Assembly that followed in 2015.
Cardinal Schönborn spoke exclusively with Vatican Radio ahead of the press conference, saying that the Holy Father’s desire in writing the exhortation was to give expression to the Church’s confidence in the family as intended by God in his design for humanity.
Click below to hear Card. Schönborn’s extended conversation with Chris Altieri
“I think the key message is: ‘Don’t speak first about problems, speak first about the achievement of the family ,’ [and] I would like to [shout it] out. The Church has been seen as a ‘warner’ – everywhere warnings and dangers and crises and problems. I think Pope Francis wants us to say, ‘Please, just look first at the enormous gift that is marriage and family,’” he said.
The Cardinal-Archbishop of also discussed the concerns expressed by observers and not a few Synod Fathers over matters of process, direction, and content during the Assemblies themselves.
“The diversity of critiques that has been expressed during the Synod is quite large, and I am sure that not everybody will be satisfied with this document. It was never the case – I can’t remember any post-Synodal Exhortation that received applause from everybody. The fact is, Pope Francis has based his Exhortation largely on the results of the two Synods, and the texts he used for [the basis of] his own writing were voted on by an over 2/3 majority of the Synod Fathers, so there is a large consensus behind it,” said Cardinal Schönborn.
On one point, in particular, Cardinal Schönborn offered significant clarification, explaining that, when Pope Francis discusses the possibility of admitting people in irregular marital situations “to the sacraments,” the Holy Father is speaking first and foremost of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“I think it is very clear,” said Card. Schönborn, “there are circumstances in which people in irregular situations may really need sacramental absolution, even if their general situation cannot be clarified.”
Below, please find a full transcript of Cardinal Schonborn’s English-language remarks to Vatican Radio
****************************
CRA: Amoris laetitia is an “exhortation”: to what is Pope Francis exhorting the Church?
Card. Schönborn: To the joy of love. Yes, it’s really that: rejoice in the joy of familial and marital love – and he speaks about marital love, not in a romantic way, not in an abstract way, it is very realistic – it is close to life, close to daily life, with all the worries and sorrows and joys of daily life. You can feel that he is a shepherd, a pastor, who has been always very close to the people, to the families, to their daily sorrows and joys. So, I think the key message is: “Don’t speak first about problems, speak first about the achievement of the family,” [and] I would like to [shout it] out. The Church has been seen as a “warner” – everywhere warnings and dangers and crises and problems. I think Pope Francis wants us to say, “Please, just look first at the enormous gift that is marriage and family.”
CRA: The Holy Father does seem to have the idea that the family is an asset?
Card. Schönborn: Absolutely. I would say it is the asset.
CRA: And yet, one not without its difficulties. The Holy Father is not without encouragement for people facing difficulties, and even for people who have to deal with the dissolution, the disintegration of family life…
Card. Schönborn: Yes, but there is an important pedagogical point [regarding] the whole document: it is not just for people who have visible problems in their marriage and family, but everybody – even, so to say, the “best” family, even the exemplary family; they all need God’s mercy, they all need conversion, they all need the help of grace – and the distinction is not so much between those who are successful in their marriages and those who are less successful in their marriage and family, but [the question is], “How do we accept God’s mercy, God’s help? The Church’s fellowship? The Church’s aid? How do we help each other on this way?” The key word is “inclusion”: we are all included under sin, and we are all included under God’s mercy. So, include people in difficulty, and help them.
CRA: Observers and some Synod Fathers expressed concern during the two Assemblies regarding process, direction and content: to the extent that those concerns were legitimate, can those who voiced them be satisfied with the document?
Card. Schönborn: The diversity of critiques that has been expressed during the Synod is quite large, and I am sure that not everybody will be satisfied with this document. It was never the case – I can’t remember any post-Synodal Exhortation that received applause from everybody. The fact is, Pope Francis has based his Exhortation largely on the results of the two Synods, and the texts he used for [the basis of] his own writing were voted on by an over 2/3 majority of the Synod Fathers, so there is a large consensus behind it. He is not innovating: he is continuing with what the Synod had already prepared and offered him.
CRA: You have said that the continuity runs also between this document and another, specifically, St. John Paul II’s Familiaris consortio …
Card. Schönborn: I am profoundly convinced that, 35 years after Familiaris consortio , Pope Francis has given us a beautiful example of what [Bl.] John Henry Newman calls, “the organic development of teaching.” [St.] John Paul II has already innovated in some points: not a break with tradition, but his “Theology of the Body” was something very new; his words on graduality in Familiaris consortio were rather unusual; his words on “discernment” in Familiaris consortio #84 were quite surprising – his strong invitation to discern different situations. Pope Francis is very much in continuity with this, and the Synod was – the two Synods were [as well]. Discernment was a key word in Pope Francis’ Exhortation. It is very “Jesuitical” – discernment of spirits – and that leads him to an attitude that was already present in Pope Benedict’s teaching, in Pope [St.] John Paul II’s teaching, that the Church offers help to those who are in so-called “irregular situations”. He adds a little note, where he says, “In certain cases, also, the aid, the help of the sacraments.” That’s all he said.
CRA: That brings us nicely to the point, because, when we are talking about discernment, we are inevitably also must discuss conscience – but we must let Mother Church form our consciences – and Pope Francis certainly knows this, though it does bear mention. The sacraments: which ones, and in what order?
Card. Schönborn: I think it is fairly clear: there are circumstances in which people in irregular situations may really need sacramental absolution, even if their general situation cannot be clarified. Pope Francis has himself given an example: when a woman [in an irregular marital situation] comes to confess her abortion – the sin, the grave sin of abortion – not to relieve her, even if her situation is irregular – the discernment of the shepherd can be, and I would say, “must be”: you have to help this person to be freed from her burden, even if you cannot tell her that her marital situation has been regularized by this absolution – but you cannot [let her leave] the confessional with the burden of her grave sin she finally had the courage to come to confess. That was the example he had given, and I think it is a very good example for what this little note could mean in certain cases: i.e. “[…]even the help of sacraments.”
(from Vatican Radio)…