Pope Francis Praises Encyclical Humanae Vitae: Asks Benedict for Advice

New interview of Pope Francis and praise for Pope Paul VI. and his most famous encyclical: "His genius was prophetic, he had the courage to go against the majority, to defend the moral discipline"

Rome (kath.net / RV)
"Yes".  Pope Francis affirmed with this clear statement when questioned whether he has been asking Benedict XVI. for advice.  This time he has given another interview for the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Serra" regarding his governance,  and how he was trying to put into practice what had emerged in the debate with the Cardinals in the various congregations before the conclave. "In my actions, I'm waiting for the Lord to give me the inspiration  ..." 

The essence of his spiritual message he understands as "tenderness and mercy." This comes from the Gospel.  Regarding the media Francis-hype the Pope said,  "I don't like the ideological interpretations of a certain Francis-mythology. If one says, for example, he was going at night from the Vatican to bring food to the homeless in the Via Ottaviano...  That's never crossed my mind. Sigmund Freud once said, if I'm not mistaken: In each idealization is also a hidden aggression. To draw the Pope as a kind of Superman, a kind of star, seems offensive to me.  The Pope is a man who laughs, cries, sleeps quietly and has friends, like everyone. A normal person. "

About accusations of Marxism, which some have made, Francis said, "I have never shared the Marxist ideology because it is not true, but I have known many brave people who were known for Marxism." When it came to sexual abuse of children, Francis explicitly praised Benedict XVI.   He was "very brave" and had opened a way."The church has done a lot in this way. Perhaps more than any other. The statistics on the phenomenon of violence against children are impressive, but they also clearly show that the vast majority of abuse happen in the family and neighborhood environment. The Catholic Church is perhaps the only public institution that has moved with transparency and responsibility. No one else has done this. And yet the Church is the only one who is attacked." 

When asked about the theme of family and divorced and remarried the Holy Father said that "there is a long path that the Church must travel. The family is in a very "serious crisis" in that  "the young people don't get married any more. "We need to give an answer. But we need to think deeply about it ... One must avoid to stay on the surface ... "  As to the presentation by Cardinal Kasper at the Consistory on the subject, Francis said that he had held a "beautiful and profound" lecture.  In the fifth point, the issue of remarried had been addressed. "I would have been worried if there had not been intense debate in the Consistory, which would have brought nothing. The Cardinals knew that they could say what they wanted, and they have presented many different points of view   that enriched. The fraternal and open exchange can nourish the theological and pastoral thinking. Regarding that, I'm not afraid, on the contrary, I'm looking for it!"  

Even on marriage itself the Pope undertook to say: "The marriage is between a man and a woman. The secular states want to justify civil marriages, to address specific situations of coexistence. It drives the need to regulate economic aspects among people, such as health insurance. It's about pacts of coexistence of different kinds .. You have to see the individual cases and assess their diversity."  Francis then also made ​​it clear that Paul VI. had the courage to go against the majority with the encyclical Humanae Vitae. "His genius was prophetic, he had the courage to go against the majority to defend the moral discipline to draw a cultural brake ... The question is not whether to change the doctrine, but if you get into the depth  and makes sure that the pastoral, the individual circumstances and what the people are each capable of take into account.  That will also be  discussed in the course of the Synod."

Then he gave praise for Orthodox Theology. "The Orthodox theology is extremely rich, and I think they have great theologians at this moment. Your picture of church and Synodality is fantastic.

 " Pope Francis welcomed Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. to the Konstistorium 

The Bishop of Rome and the
Pope of the Universal Church

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

AMGD