What Does [The] Emphasis on Mercy Mean for the Church, and Even

POPE FRANCIS

• I

BY SR. PATRICIA TALONE, RSM, PhD

ome have labeled Pope Francis' governance as the papacy of mercy, Having attended other papal audi one grounded in that virtue. The Latin word for mercy is misericor ences, I knew what to expect. Exactly dia, a term with two root words: miseria, meaning wretchedness as the clock struck 10, the popemobile or misery, and cor, meaning heart. Thus, misericordia denotes "having a would exit the southwest corner of St. heart for those in misery." It describes a habit of the heart, a way of being, Peter's Square and proceed along care that continually directs one to reach out to people who are suffering. fully circumscribed and highly guarded pathways to an elevated platform. Closely related to compassion, its at the edges of society was something I The pope would exit the popemobile, sister virtue, mercy indicates an indi witnessed personally, one short month ascend to the platform and speak to and vidual who is moved at the deepest after he was elected to succeed Pope bless the gathered thousands. level of his or her being, recognizes a Benedict XVI to the throne of St. Peter. Francis surprised us. Eschewing profound relationship with all people On the morning of April 24, 2013, a punctuality and precision, the new and acts out of that benevolent and group of Catholic Health Association pontiff entered the square about 10 tender heart to alleviate the anguish of pilgrims - attendees of CH.Ns annual minutes early and quickly adjusted the others. ecclesiology and spiritual renewal pro path of the popemobile. He directed his What an apt description of Pope gram - went to the Vatican's regularly intrepid chauffeur to proceed through Francis. scheduled, Wednesday papal audience. the crowds toward barriers located at But what does that emphasis on the Via della Conciliazione, the main mercy mean for the church, and even thoroughfare that lies just beyond St. more, what might it mean to those of What does [the] Peter's Square. Passing the ticketed and us who continue the healing ministry emphasis on mercy seated pilgrims, the new pope headed of Jesus within Catholic health care? toward those who had no tickets and How do we measure up to Pope Fran mean for the church, were unable to enter the square. cis' words and deeds? Are there oppor As his vehicle progressed, he often tunities for improvement? In the rap and even more, what directed the driver to stop so he could idly changing face of health care in might it mean to those reach out to people in the crowd. Not the United States, what might it mean content with a celebrity wave, Pope if we were to fully apply the words of of us who continue the Francis stretched and touched, most our "Shared Statement of Identity," often connecting with infants, children highlighting "special attention to our healing ministry of and those who were sick or suffering. neighbors who are poor, underserved, Jesus within Catholic Francis passed close to the CHA pil and most vulnerable?"1 grims, and it was easy for us to see the Francis's evident passion for those health care? electric connection he made with peo-

HEALTH PROGRESS www.chausa.org SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 7

Pope Francis kneels at the confessional in St. Peter's Basilica.

ple among the throngs - like the good shepherd become more and more dangerous for migrants in the parable, his eyes seemed to search out and and refugees. While it mentioned tremendous latch onto those in need. A member of our group acts of courage by individuals and nations, it also noted later that the expression on the pope's face acknowledged that indifference to human rights was one ofintense joy and displayed a quality that remains endemic in many parts of the world.3 In "can only come from God." today's world, the wealthy few continue to grow The universality of the church and the power rich while others, even persons once in the middle and witness of ordinary people's faith always are class, struggle to secure housing and food, not to in evidence during a papal audience. But this audi mention a future for their children.4 ence especially impressed upon me, even more The Catholic Church itself faces violent per poignantly, that our church is one that always secution and hostility in many parts of the world.5 reaches out to those most in need. While the number of Catholics throughout the world has more than tripled over the past cen CONTEMPORARY REALITY tury, the number of Catholics in what had once When he resigned as pontiff, Pope Benedict been largely Catholic countries has diminished grounded his reasoning and action in contempo alarmingly.6 Add to this the consequences of the rary reality. He stated, "In today's world, subject sexual abuse scandals in many parts of the world, to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions the diminishing credibility of the hierarchy and of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to the Curia due to mishandling of finances and the govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim abuse crisis, and one can recognize that Pope the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are Benedict was beset by troubles on every side. necessary.'' 2 Pope Francis stepped into this reality, reach Independent secular groups have echoed ing out in mercy. In an interview for America Benedict's concern for the state of the world. That magazine, fellow Jesuit Antonio Spadaro asked May, Amnesty International, a nongovernmental Francis, "What does the church need at this his organization focused on human rights, issued toric moment?" After praising the humility and its 2013 World Report, noting that the world has courage of his predecessor's resignation, Francis

8 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 www.chausa.org HEALTH PROGRESS POPE FRANCIS

responded, "I see clearly that the thing the church In a sense, Francis was living out what he needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and preached; he was walking the talk. That same day, to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs near in the Vatican Hall ofBlessings, he had encouraged ness, proximity. I see the church as a field hospital priest confessors attending a course at the Vatican after battle.'' to warmly welcome penitents. He reminded them He continued, "The ministers of the church that "a priest's heart is a heart that is able to be must be ministers ofmercy above all .... I dream of touched." 9 a church that is a mother and a shepherdess. The His ready disclosure of sinfulness comes as no church's ministers must be merciful, take respon surprise to anyone familiar with Jesuit spiritual sibility for the people and accompany them like ity. While he may now be the pope, Fr. Bergoglio the Good Samaritan, who washes, cleans and is first a Jesuit. Furthermore, during his long years raises up his neighbor.'' 7 in the Society ofJesus, he served his congrega tion first as novice director and then as provin ROOTED IN SPIRITUALITY cial of the Argentine province. Therefore, this is What's the source of the tender mercy that Francis a man steeped in Ignatian spirituality. As a novice so readily voices and displays? Obviously it comes himself, and many times afterward as a spiritual from God, and it is deeply ingrained in Francis' director, Francis entered into the Spiritual Exer nature and personality. The pope's motto gives cises of St. Ignatius, in which one contemplates us an indication. Upon their ordination, bish the themes of God's boundless personal love, the ops adopt a distinctive coat of arms with a motto call to follow Christ in a personal ministry, one's emblazoned upon it. In June 1992, when Fr. Jorge own sinfulness and its connection to Christ's suf Mario Bergoglio, SJ, was consecrated as bishop, he fering and death, and, lastly, the Resurrection of took the motto, "miserando atque eligendo," mean Jesus and God's promise to be with each one of ing "by having mercy and by choosing." Adapted us always. from a homily of St. Bede, the phrase recollects In the third segment of the exercises, one Matthew 9:9-13, an account of Jesus' call of Mat comes face to face with one's own sinfulness and thew, the tax collector. St. Bede asserts that Jesus asks God for a sense of sorrow for personal sin, as chose Matthew as an apostle not in spite of his well as a deep sense of God's merciful love. Critics sins, but because he was a sinner. It is significant have challenged Fr. Bergoglio's 1973-1979 leader that Francis decided to retain that motto after he ship of the Jesuits as provincial. His tenure was was elected pope. partially concurrent with the Argentine "Dirty The call ofMatthew is deeply etched upon Pope War" that followed a military junta's govern Francis' religious imagination as well. In the Spad ment takeover in 1976. The ensuing dictatorship aro interview, the pope described often visiting rounded up its perceived opponents, children the church of St. Louis of France, located in Rome, were taken from parents, people were tortured. to reflect upon a celebrated painting there, "The Thousands were "disappeared." Calling of St. Matthew" by Caravaggio. Observing Much has been written about this period of the that he identified with St. Matthew, Francis said, pope's life and his actions as provincial during "Here, this is me, a sinner on whom the Lord has those brutal and violent times.10 In an interview, turned his gaze ... I am a sinner, but I trust in the Francis stated, "I had to learn from my errors infinite mercy and patience of our Lord ... .''8 along the way, because to tell you the truth, I made On March 28, 2014, Francis demonstrated his hundreds of errors. Errors and sins. It would be realization of personal sinfulness, as well as his wrong of me to say that these days I ask forgive deep faith in the Sacrament of Penance, when ness for the sins and offenses that I might have he knelt at one of the confessionals in St. Peter's committed. Today I ask forgiveness for the sins Basilica and received the Sacrament of Reconcili and offenses that I did indeed commit.''11 ation. Someone took a photograph that quickly Thus, Francis' commitment to mercy origi went viral on the Internet - it was the first time nates in the deep assurance that he, personally, such a papal picture had ever been seen. While has been blessed with God's abundant mercy. analysts opined about the photo's effect on the German theologians have an expression for this: practice of confession throughout the Catholic Gabe und Aufgabe, "gift and task," a phrase that world, the image reinforced Francis' admission means we are only able to give what we have first that he is a sinner. received from the hand of a bountiful God.

HEALTH PROGRESS www.chausa.org SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 9 ROOTED IN PASTORAL EXPERIENCE the unknowing disciples on the road to Emmaus While Fr. Bergoglio spent many years in Jesuit (Luke 24:13-32). In each case, Francis notedJesus's administration, first as a formation director and patience, understanding, forgiveness and love then as a provincial, for more than two decades toward those whom he encountered. he served as a bishop and later as cardinal in his The pope then eloquently described the par home city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. During able of the prodigal son, calling it "the parable of these years, he ministered in a huge Catholic dio the merciful father." 15 He described the great hope cese, celebrating liturgies, conferring the Sacra that this parable gives to him personally, remark ment of Confirmation upon youth, riding public ing that the father in the story, like our tender God, transportation and often visiting his city's slums, never ceases to wait for his son, "waiting for him unpaved streets where thousands live in shacks with no running water or sewage systems. It is from these daily encounters If Catholic health care takes the with real people that Francis calls upon words and deeds of Pope Francis the church to be rooted in a deep and real pastoral experience. seriously, how can we live this spirit On Holy Thursday, 2013, the new pope surprised (and, for some, scandalized) of mercy he proclaims? the faithful when he washed the feet of inmates in a Roman juvenile detention center. The every hour of every day." The pope assures us recipients of his humble service included females that "God is always waiting for us; he never grows and one non-Christian. The ritual echoes Christ's tired." 16 words in John 13:14, "ifl therefore, the master and Pope Francis has highlighted the fact that our teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash weakness or sinfulness draws forth God's infi one another's feet.'' 12 nite patience. Quoting the German theologian Francis conveys to all Christians that real and Romano Guardini, he pointed out that "God authentic power lies in service to others, espe responds to our weakness by his patience, and this cially to those in need. On that same Holy Thurs is the reason for our confidence, our hope.17 The day, he called upon priests throughout the world pontiff closed his homily emphasizing how per to a ministry requiring stretching oneself, contin sonal is God's mercy. "For God," he emphasized, ually going out to those in need to put our "own "we are not numbers, we are important; indeed skin and heart on the line.'' we are the most important thing to him. Even if He reminded all followers of Christ that "we we are sinners, we are what is closest to his heart.'' need to 'go out,' then ... to the outskirts where Francis is not the only pope in recent memory there is suffering, bloodshed, blindness that longs to highlight the virtue of mercy. In 1980, Pope for sight and prisoners in thrall to many evil John Paul II issued his second encyclical, Dives masters.''13 in Misericordia, focusing on many of the themes that Francis has reiterated in the current pontifi ROOTED IN SCRIPTURE AND THEOLOGY cate. John Paul II, like his successor, grounded his Pope Francis has acknowledged the impression teaching in Scripture, took account of the state of that Cardinal Walter Kasper's book, Mercy: The the world and called the church to justice and care Essence ofthe Gospel and the Key to Christian Life, of the poor. The words of this acclaimed encycli made upon him.14 (See review, page 76). It would cal are as relevant today as they were almost 35 seem that Cardinal Kasper's text confirmed and years ago. The difference between the two pon articulated the pope's own convictions that our tiffs may lie in the fact that John Paul II was a con suffering world needs mercy more than condem summate philosopher; Francis is, first and fore nation and presence more than detachment. most, a pastor. At his Mass for the Possession of the Chair of the Bishop of Rome, on April 7, 2013, less than a CATHOLIC HEALTH CARE month after his election, Pope Francis delivered Pope Francis' iterative teachings about mercy, a homily entitled, "The Embrace of God's Mercy." tenderness and compassion call the contempo In it, Francis highlighted the stories of doubt rary church and world to reconnect to the fact ing Thomas (John 20:19-28), the denial of Peter that we must possess a "heart for those in misery" (described in all four Gospels), and the account of (misericordia). One would be hard pressed to con-

10 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 www.chausa.org HEALTH PROGRESS POPE FRANCIS

ceive of a ministry as well-positioned to respond NOTES to this call as is Catholic health care. 1. Catholic Health Association, "Shared Statement of If Catholic health care takes seriously the Identity for the Catholic Health Ministry," Jan.1, 2001. words and deeds of Pope Francis, how can we 2. Benedict XVI, speech, Feb.10, 2013. www. live this spirit of mercy he proclaims? Certainly, vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/ facilities and systems must authentically follow speeches/2013/february/documents/ the pope's example by seeking out those who are hf_ben-xvi_spe_20130211_declaratio_en.html. poor, suffering and disenfranchised, by offering 3. Amnesty International, 2013 World Report, www. them the tender care that Jesus brought to the amnesty.org/en/annual-report/2013/press-release. sick. 4. See Oxfam lnternational's report, "Working for the In papal audiences, one witnesses Pope Fran Few: Political Capture and Economic Inequality," Jan. 20, cis locking eyes with or touching the most vul 2014. nerable pilgrims. So, too, mercy compels Catholic 5. John L. Allen, "After Hobby Lobby, Time to Face the health care to always acknowledge human dignity Real War on Religion," Boston Globe, July 6, 2014. by gazing at each individual patient and touching www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2014/07/05/ him or her with reverence and compassion. after-hobby-lobby-time-face-real-war Similarly, if the ministry takes seriously Fran religion/9kJVpalaeb0p5AX26V4v5J/story.html. cis's call for a poor church for the poor, trustees 6. Pew Research Religion & Public Life Project, "The and executives must scrupulously and trans Global Catholic Population," Feb.13, 2013. www.pewfo parently examine internal financial and human rum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/. resource policies to ensure justice and equity for 7. Antonio Spadaro, "A Big Heart Open to God," Amer the community of persons who serve in Catholic ica, Sept. 30, 2013. www.americamagazine.org/ health care, as well as for those we serve. If we pope-interview. truly believe that God's mercy is for all of God's 8. Spadaro. people, then surely the Catholic health ministry 9. Quoted in Vatican Information Service, March 28, must redouble its advocacy efforts on behalf of 2014. those women, men and children who are still 10. Paul Vallely, Pope Francis: Untying the Knots (London: unserved and underserved in health care. Bloomsbury Academic, 2013). In this book Vallely, a If we in Catholic health care are to be minis journalist, objectively examines the period in question in ters of mercy, we must, like Francis, be solidly chapter 4, "What Really Happened in the Dirty War." grounded lest we lose our bearings. We must be 11. Vallely. rooted in and knowledgeable of contemporary 12. New American Bible. reality, supported by Catholic health care's long 13. Francis, homily at the Chrism Mass, March 28, 2013. and august assistance to all people, formed in http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homi theology and deeply immersed in a personal and lies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130328_ lived spirituality.18 With this grounding, Catholic messa-crismale.html. health care positions itself to address the needs of 14. Walter Kasper, Mercy: The Essence of the Gospel and a continually changing environment as it remains the Key to Christian Life (New York: Paulist Press, 2014). faithful to its long-held commitment to have a This book was published in Europe in 2013. "heart for those in misery." 15. Francis, The Church of Mercy: A Vision for the Church The words of the ministry's Catholic identity (Chicago: Loyola Press, 2014): Part 1.1, electronic statement, "every person is a treasure, every life version. a sacred gift, every human being a unity of body, 16. The Church of Mercy, electronic version. mind and spirit ... with special attention to our 17. The Church of Mercy, electronic version. Although Fr. neighbors who are poor, underserved and most Bergoglio did not complete a dissertation in theology, he vulnerable,'' echo the spirit of Pope Francis and had chosen German theologian Rom.ano Guardini as the his commitment to mercy.19 subject of his study. 18. The excellent leadership formation programs pro SR. PATRICIA TALONE, RSM, is vice president, vided by many Catholics systems form the basis for mission services, the Catholic Health Association, such grounding. St. Louis. 19. Catholic Health Association, "Shared Statement of Identity for the Catholic Health Ministry."

HEALTH PROGRESS www.chausa.org SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2014 11 JOURNAL OF THE CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES www.chausa.org HEALTH PROGRESS