The Vision Of The Ecclesiology Of Pope Francis: A Focus On Its Missionary Dimension In The Light Of Evangelii Gaudium

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dc.contributor.authorMunu, Chrysantus Mbiemieh
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-06T07:18:24Z
dc.date.available2020-02-06T07:18:24Z
dc.date.issued2016-01
dc.description.abstractThe charismatic words and gestures of Pope Francis continue to attract the attention of the entire world, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and people of other religious practices and traditions from across the globe. For us Catholics, Francis’ vision of what it means to be Church in our contemporary society has slowly emerged towards mission that is, going forth to others since he became pope in March 2013.1 The Holy Father wants the Church to face outward - to have a “missionary option,” to acquire a “missionary key” (EG, 27, 33, 34). He believes that “to go out of ourselves and to join others is healthy for us,” as human beings and as a Church (EG, 87). This in itself is good in the order of nature and in the order of grace. In putting this into reality we imitate the Lord who went forth first proclaiming the Gospel to all (EG, no. 24). This missionary and charismatic overtone will eventually “affect the way we communicate the message” of the Gospel to those we encounter (EG, no. 34). It is from this backdrop that Paul Zulehner in his contribution on the “Missionary Transformation of the Church” points out to the fact that behind the central issue of mission lies the question of the Church’s vision, by which the Holy Father is guided in his pontificate. It is primarily characterized by the renunciation of a moralizing approach in favor of a healing and therapeutic approach on the part of the Church; in which Francis refer to ahierarchy of truths and to compassion as the guiding principle in pastoral ministry.2 It is from this perspective that he says the Church must be freed of its structural, middle-class-focused self-absorption, for the church will only be healed by finding its way towards people on the periphery of life.3 Flowing from this one can conclude without an iota of doubt that the ecclesiological perspective of Francis is both appealing in its vitality and overwhelming in the challenges it presents to both the Christian community as a whole and to the individual believer. Even though Pope Francis has not written a systematic treatise on the church per se, a number of salient ecclesiological themes are present in his writings and in the talks he has delivered.4 Francis wants a Church that is on mission, reaching out to others and accompanying them, especially those on the periphery; a merciful Church that is hospitable for all those who have been wounded in this world; a Church that builds bridges, not walls. He wants a church that is poor and for the poor, one that rejects careerism; a church that is committed to encounter, inclusion and reconciliation, not one that is confrontational, self-referential or judgmental.5 He wants a synodal church, in which the bishops and faithful people walk together and authority is understood as service. The aim of this long essay will therefore be to show the missionary dimension of Pope Francis’ ecclesiology in the light of Evangelii Gaudium and its challenges towards the transformation of our contemporary society. To accomplish this task, the work will be compartmentalized into four chapters. Chapter one, will target the preliminary considerations that surround this topic and will eventually set a background to the entire work. In chapter two, we will explore the vision of his ecclesiology in the light of mission that is the church as communion, a church in solidarity and a servant church which will form the bedrock on which the entire work will depend.6 This vision of the Church faces challenges both from within and without the Church which is characterized by individualism, materialism among others. These tendencies or obstacles are in opposition to Francis’ missionary transformation. This will form the basis of chapter three. And finally, chapter four will focus on Francis’ vision of a vibrant and accommodative Church in the light of his ecclesiology. The work will end with a conclusion and a select bibliography.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12342/962
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTangaza University Collegeen_US
dc.subjectVisionen_US
dc.subjectEcclesiologyen_US
dc.subjectPope Francisen_US
dc.subjectMissionaryen_US
dc.subjectEvangelii Gaudiumen_US
dc.titleThe Vision Of The Ecclesiology Of Pope Francis: A Focus On Its Missionary Dimension In The Light Of Evangelii Gaudiumen_US
dc.typeOtheren_US
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