Shepherds

POPE FRANCIS

July 28, 2013

“Responding to the existential issues of people today, especially the young, listening to the language they speak, can lead to a fruitful change, which must take place with the help of the Gospel, the Magisterium, and the Church’s Social Doctrine.”

Pope Francis warned about the dangers the Church faces; among them making the Gospel message an ideology, functionalism and clericalism. 

He also proposed two “pastoral categories” in helping the Church with its missionary role, nearness and encounter.

POPE FRANCIS

July 28, 2013

“They do not take into account the “revolution of tenderness” brought by the incarnation of God. There are pastoral plans designed with such a dose of distance that they are incapable of sparking an encounter: an encounter with Jesus Christ, an encounter with our brothers and sisters.”

To make these encounters possible, the Pope urged the Church hierarchy to reject the old,prince-like mentality, and to strive to be shepherds, close to their flock.