2013: A Look Back, and Beyond from the Vatican!

Vatican City, 31 December 2013: 2013 has been a remarkable year for the Vatican, beginning with the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict, which was followed by the election of Francis, the first Pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit one. Since then, the new Pope has won fans among Catholics and non-Catholics alike with his simplicity, his sincerity and his message of mercy and inclusiveness. The impact of his papal ministry has been dubbed “the Francis effect” with polls showing that the Pope is one of the most popular figures on the planet and the most talked-about name on the Internet.
"Pope Francis really has set the Church on its way, with great strength and he has set it on its way with his example, his effort and with various messages and initiatives – think of the new Synod on the family; think of how he has encouraged the renewal of the Church and of our lives, said Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, in an interview with Vatican Radio.
I believe that what distinguishes Pope Francis’ spirituality and leadership in a special way is the fact that we are constantly in motion, trying to find the new things which God asks of us in our daily lives, Fr Lombardi said adding, we are now part of a Church in motion. We are not presented with any specific goals or any specific picture of how tomorrow’s Church will need to be organised to achieve this goal.
According to Fr. Lombardi, the purpose or value of the all-important structural changes, the reforms that everyone is talking about, is primarily to ensure that the Church’s structures, instruments and organisations are indeed serving the spirit and announcement of the Gospel. This is what Pope Francis means by reform: making sure that instruments and structures better serve the mission of the Church".

Monsignor John Kennedy, an official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in an interview with Vatican Radio’s Susy Hodges said that he agrees that 2013 was a fascinating year in the Vatican and pays tribute to Pope Francis’ ability to “preach the gospel in a new and a very exciting way.” As a result of this, the new Pope has helped persuade a lot of Catholics to return to the Church and the celebration of the Sacraments. “He has made a lot of people return to their faith in a new way… there’s a lot more people present at Mass”, said Msgr Kennedy.

Monsignor Kennedy went on to describe Pope Francis as “a great leader who seems to be one of us, who’s inviting us to be like him as we strive to follow the gospel more radically and more freely and in a more generous way.”

When asked what he sees as the highlights of the Pope’s words and deeds during 2013, Monsignor Kennedy singles out the “recurring theme of reconciliation” preached by Francis during his many homilies and audiences. He also mentions the Pope’s stated intention of wanting to reform the Church and the Roman Curia, making it “more open, more accountable.”
Just as Pope Francis “gave us one surprise after another” in 2013, Kennedy predicts there will be plenty more surprises in the coming year. VR Sedoc