Why I like Pope Francis

Pope Francis seems to be eager to bring about a culture change within the Catholic Church. His reply to a simple question "Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?" was equally simplistic; "I am a sinner", Pope Francis said.

The first South American pope has made it clear that he wants a church for the poor, and it is obvious that he is trying to move the Church away from the secluded doctrinally pure Church that his predecessor advocated. Pope Francis' words portray the Church as the "home of all" and project an image of the Roman Catholic Church as one that must go out into the world and engage people. He wants a Church that can foster a "culture of encounter". He is in favour of reform; a more humble approach and a "listening" church that is not afraid of making mistakes, as part of his mission to become the "parish priest" of the world. The Pope sends a clear message to the church's ministers, that they must go out and meet the people wherever they are. He recommends that "small-minded rules" that keep ministers locked up and shielded from the world should be set aside.

According to news reports on his La Civiltà Cattolica interview last August, Pope Francis is said to have claimed that the Church has concentrated on supervising sex -particularly abortion, conception and homosexuality - while neglecting other important teachings. The Pope has admitted his reluctance to speak of "absolute truth" not because he is a "relativist" but because for Christians, truth is mediated through a person, Christ.

The Argentinean Pope may not be a Pope from the Vatican Council but he is a Pope of the Council. Pope Francis emphasises the Council's teaching by referring to the church as "missionary by her very nature". He says he wants a church "for the poor". He refers to the frontiers of Catholicism and wants people to understand that frontiers should not been seen in a geographical context, but as those boundaries that distinguish between Catholics and those that do not see much value in organised religion or who have been overlooked or neglected. He believes that the Church should find new roads and have dialogue with all, even its opponents. His defence of the poor and marginalised has helped him set liberation theology free from its ecclesiastical dungeon. Pope Francis says, "The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful". He has said that he sees the Church as a field hospital after battle.

Pope Francis has been chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church in difficult times. He has a very distinctive style that has drawn praise from one and all. He is not trying to change for change's sake, but is attempting a serious reform that will not be easily carried out. Vatican II offered a new way of thinking about doctrine. The Pope can insist that the dogmatic and moral teachings of the Church are not all equivalent. This is why he doesn't think he is compromising on doctrine when he suggests that there may need to be a more compassionate pastoral response to the divorced and remarried. It is a question of style vs. substance. There are many who believe that Pope Francis will not rewrite controversial Church doctrines and it is unlikely that his reforms will pave the way for women to be ordained or that gays won't be viewed as intrinsically disordered. But if Pope Francis succeeds in creating a new generation of pastoral leaders who are willing to create this "culture of encounter", he would have created the style which could lead to meaningful and transformative doctrinal substance.

Evarist Bartolo is Minister for Education