Joan Lewis: Evangelii Gaudium is "a programme for papacy"

(Vatican Radio) As the Church and the world begin to read and digest the thoughts and ideas of Pope Francis expressed in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) after its publication on Tuesday, some people have gotten a head start.

Joan Lewis, EWTN's Rome Bureau Chief, received a copy of the Apostolic Exhortation personally from Pope Francis on behalf of all journalists during the closing Mass for the Year of Faith on Sunday, giving her two extra days to study the document.

“I did come home and certainly start to read that copy…my first thought was this sure sounds like a plan or a programme for his papacy,” she said. “He is touching on all levels. He is speaking to all people. You know he is talking to the priests in a certain part. He is talking to the laity. He is talking to bishops. He is getting everyone involved, or certainly wants to, in the New Evangelization.”

She told Vatican Radio the document gave few specifics, but said it would gain in importance as Pope Francis conducts several important meetings over the next year, including the Consistory called for February, and leading up to the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of Evangelization in October.

“It is almost like he is preparing the people that he is going to be meeting with, including in a year from now the Synod of Bishops, it is like he is preparing them ‘okay ladies and gentleman, this is what is on our plate for the coming weeks and coming meetings,” Lewis said. “The impression, too, is that what Pope Francis wants is … a better Church, he wants a better society, and he wants a better world.”

Listen to the full interview by Charles Collins with Joan Lewis: