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Pope Francis meets with German bishops during their ad limina visit Nov. 20, 2015. Credit: Vatican Media.
June 29, 2019
Courtney Grogan
Catholic News AgencyVATICAN CITY - Pope Francis sent a 28-page letter to Catholics in Germany Saturday calling for a focus on evangelization in the face of the “erosion” and “decline of the faith” in the country.
"Evangelization must be our guiding criterion par excellence, by which we can recognize all the steps we are called to take as an ecclesial community," Pope Francis wrote in a letter published June 29.
“The current challenges, as well as the answers we give, demand a long maturation process and the cooperation of an entire people over years,” he said, noting that "seeking immediate results" can have consequences that are "fleeting because they do not correspond to the vocation we are given."
In his letter, Pope Francis issued a warning about the “synodal path,” a process announced by Cardinal Reinhard Marx. The pope said, “What this entails in concrete terms and how it unfolds will certainly require further consideration."
The German bishops’ conference decided in March that the issues of priestly celibacy, the Church’s teaching on sexual morality, and a reduction of clerical power would be subject to a process “synodal progression” that could lead to a binding, but as yet undetermined, outcome.
“Synodality presupposes and requires the action of the Holy Spirit,” Francis said in the letter.
The pope warned, “despite all serious and inevitable reflection, it is easy to fall into subtle temptations … therefore caution should be exercised, since they, anything but helpful to a common path, hold us in preconceived schemes and mechanisms that end in alienation or limitation of our mission.”
“What is more, if we are not aware of these temptations, we easily end up with a complicated series of arguments, analyses and solutions with no other effect than to stay away from the real and daily encounter with the faithful people and the Lord,” he said.
The pope also reiterated concerns he raised with the German bishops during their ad limina visit in Rome in November 2015 in which he had already noted a grave lack of participation in the sacraments among Catholics in Germany. He challenged bishops to "pastoral conversion" and warned of "excessive centralization.”
“To accept and endure the present situation … is an invitation to face what has died in us and in our congregations, which requires evangelization and visitation by the Lord,” Francis said. “But this requires courage, because what we need is much more than structural, organizational or functional change.”
Below is an unofficial translation of the main part of the pope's letter, published in German on the Vatican's website:Dear brothers and sisters,
The consideration of the readings of the Easter festival from Acts has moved me to write you this letter. In these readings, we encounter the very first apostolic church, which is completely imbued with the new life given by the Holy Spirit, who at the same time has made all the circumstances so that they have become good occasions for proclamation. The disciples seemed to have lost everything and on the first day of the week, between bitterness and sadness, they heard from the mouth of a woman that the Lord was alive. Nothing and no one could stop the intrusion of the Paschal Mystery into their lives, and at the same time the disciples could not understand what their eyes saw and touched their hands (1 John 1: 1).
In the light of this and with the conviction that the Lord "with his novelty can always renew our lives and our fellowship," I want to be close to you and share your concern for the future of the Church in Germany. We are all aware that we are living not only in a time of change, but rather in a turning point that raises new and old issues in the light of which a dispute is legitimate and necessary. The circumstances and issues I have with your shepherd on the occasion of the last ad liminaCould certainly continue to resonate in your communities. As on that occasion, I would like to offer you my support, announce my closeness on the common path, and encourage the search for an outspoken response to the present situation.
1. With gratitude, I view the fine network of communities and communities, parishes, and filial communities, schools and colleges, hospitals, and other social services that have arisen throughout history and bear witness to the living faith that has sustained them over several generations and has revived. This faith has passed through times of suffering, confrontation, and tribulation, and at the same time stands for stability and liveliness; even today he shows in many testimonies and works of charity rich in fruit. The Catholic communities in Germany in their diversity and plurality are recognized worldwide for their sense of responsibility and generosity, which has understood reaching out and accompanying the implementation of evangelization processes in regions in disadvantaged areas with no opportunities. This magnanimity has been shown in recent history not only in the form of economic and material help, but also in the fact that over the years it has shared many charisms and sent personnel: priests, women religious and men and lay people who are all faithful and tireless have fulfilled their ministry and mission under often very difficult conditions. You have given to the universal Church great sacred men and women, great theologians and theologians, and pastors and lay people who contributed to the success of a fruitful encounter between the Gospel and the cultures, to new syntheses and capable of doing so To awaken the best of both for future generations in the same zeal of beginnings. This has made remarkable efforts to find pastoral answers to the challenges that have come your way.
I would also like to point out the ecumenical path you have taken, the fruits of which have been shown on the occasion of the commemoration year "500 years of Reformation". This path encourages further initiatives in prayer, as well as cultural exchanges and works of charity that will enable us to overcome the prejudices and wounds of the past so that we can celebrate and test the joy of the gospel better.
2. Today, however, with you, I painfully note the increasing erosion and decay of faith with everything that includes not only spiritual but also social and cultural issues. This situation can be seen visibly, as Benedict XVI. has shown, not only "in the East, as we know, where much of the population is not baptized and has no contact with the Church and often Christ does not know,"but even in so-called "traditional Catholic areas with a drastic decline the visitor of the Sunday mass as well as the reception of the sacraments. This is certainly a multi-faceted and no sooner or easily resolved decline. He demands a serious and conscious approach and challenges us in that historical moment like that beggar, though we hear the apostle's words: "I do not own silver and gold. But what I have, I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, go around! (Acts 3: 6)
3. To counter this situation, your bishops have proposed a synodal path. What it means concretely and how it develops will certainly have to be considered even more deeply. For my part, I have presented my reflections on the topic of synodality on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops. It is essentially a synodosa common path under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But that means going out together with the whole Church under the light of the Holy Spirit, under His guidance and rousing, to learn to listen and to recognize the ever-new horizon He wants to give us. For synodality presupposes the action of the Holy Spirit and requires it.
On the occasion of the last plenary session of the Italian bishops, I had the opportunity to recall this central reality for the life of the Church, bringing with it the twofold perspective it pursues: "Synodality from the bottom up, that is the duty to ensure the existence and proper functioning of the diocese, the councils, the parishes, the participation of the laity ... (see canon 469-494 CIC), starting with the diocese. So it is not possible to hold a great synod without taking the base into consideration ... Only then will the synodality come from above downwards, "which allows, in a specific and special way, the collegial dimension of the episcopal ministry and of the church to live, This is the only way to make mature decisions in matters essential to the faith and life of the Church. This will be possible on the condition that we get on the road, equipped with patience and the humble and healthy conviction that we will never succeed in solving all questions and problems at the same time. The Church is and always will be a pilgrim on the way of history; She is the bearer of a treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor 4: 7). This reminds us: in this world, the Church will never be perfect, while its liveliness and beauty will be grounded in the treasure to whose guardian she has been appointed from the beginning.
The current challenges, as well as the answers we give, call for "the development of a healthy aggiornamento " of a long maturation process and the co-operation of a whole people for years " [9] . This encourages the emergence and continuation of processes that build us as God's people, rather than seeking immediate results with premature and medial consequences that are fleeting due to lack of deepening and maturing, or because they do not correspond to the vocation given to us.
4. In this sense, with all serious and unavoidable reflection, one can easily fall into subtle temptations, which, in my opinion, should be given special attention and caution should be exercised, as they are precarious to us, anything but helpful for a common path Adhere to schemata and mechanisms that end in alienation or confinement of our mission. Moreover, as an aggravating circumstance, if we are unaware of these temptations, we easily end up in a complicated series of arguments, analyzes, and solutions with no other effect than on the actual and daily encounter with the faithful people and the Lord keep.
5. Accepting and enduring the present situation does not imply passivity or resignation and even less negligence; on the contrary, it is an invitation to face what has died in us and in our communities, which requires evangelization and the visitation of the Lord. But that requires courage, because what we need is much more than a structural, organizational or functional change.
I recall what I said when meeting your pastors in 2015 that one of the first and greatest temptations in the church sphere is to believe that the solutions to current and future problems are solely through the reform of structures, Organizations and administration can be achieved, but that in the end in no way touch the vital points that actually need attention. "It's a kind of new Pelagianism that leads to putting our trust in the administration, the perfect apparatus. Exaggerated centralization, however, complicates the life of the church and its missionary dynamism rather than helping it (see Evangelii gaudium , 32).
The basis of this temptation is the idea that in the face of many problems and shortcomings, the best answer would be to reorganize things, make changes, and "patch up" to order and smooth the life of the Church by the logic of the day that one of a certain group adapts. In such a way, all difficulties seem to be solved, and things seemingly find their way again, so that ecclesiastical life finds a "very definite" new or old order, which then ends the tensions that are our own human being and the wants to evoke the gospel.
In this way tensions in church life would only seemingly be eliminated. Wanting to be "just and in harmony" would, over time, only euthanize and tame the hearts of our people and reduce or even silence the living power of the gospel that the Spirit wishes to bestow: "That would be the greatest Sin of the secularization and worldly attitude against the Gospel.
So you might come to a well-structured and functioning, even "modernized" ecclesiastical organism; but he would remain without a soul and without the freshness of the gospel. We would only live a "gaseous," vague Christianity, but without the necessary "bite" of the gospel.
Today we are called to deal with imbalances and mismatches. We will not be able to do anything good that is in keeping with the gospel if we are afraid of it. We must not forget that there are tensions and imbalances that have the taste of the gospel, which are to be maintained because they promise new life.
6. It is therefore important for me to keep in mind what "the Church has repeatedly taught, that we are not justified by our works or our efforts, but by the grace of the Lord who takes the initiative." Without this dimension of divine virtues we run the risk of repeating in the various renewal efforts what today prevents the ecclesial community from proclaiming the merciful love of God. The way in which the current situation is adopted will determine the fruits that will emerge from it. That is why I appeal that this should be done in the tone of divine virtues. The gospel of grace with the Visitation of the Holy Spirit is the light and the guide to face these challenges. Whenever a church community tries to come out of its own problems, relying only on its own resources, its own methods, and its own intelligence, it ends up being the evil to overcome. still multiply and sustain. Forgiveness and salvation are not something we have to buy, "or what we have to acquire through our works or efforts. He forgives and liberates us free of charge. His devotion to the Cross is such a great thing that we can not or should not pay it, we can only accept this gift with the utmost gratitude, full of joy, to be so loved, even before we even think about it.
The current picture of the situation does not allow us to lose sight of the fact that our mission is not bound up with predictions, calculations or encouraging or discouraging surveys, either at the ecclesiastical, political, economic or social levels, or successful ones Results of our Pastoral Planning. All that matters is to value, listen, evaluate, and pay attention to these things; in itself, however, our faithfulness is not exhausted. Our mission and reason of existence are rooted in the fact that "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (Jn 3:16). "Without new life and genuine spirit inspired by the Gospel, without" fidelity of the Church to her own vocation "will destroy any new structure in a short time."
Therefore, the imminent process of change can not respond exclusively to external facts and needs, such as the sharp decline in birth rates and the aging of communities that do not allow for a normal generation shift. However, objective and valid causes, when viewed in isolation from the mystery of the Church, would favor and encourage a merely reactive attitude, both positive and negative. A true process of change answers, but at the same time demands that arise from our Christianity and the inherent dynamism of the evangelization of the Church; such a process requires a pastoral conversion. We are asked to adopt a stance that aims to live the gospel and make it transparent. Pastoral conversion reminds us that evangelization must be our guiding criterion under which we can recognize all the steps that we have called the ecclesial community to set in motion; Evangelizing is the actual and essential mission of the Church.
7. Therefore, as your bishops have already emphasized, it is necessary to regain the primacy of evangelization in order to look to the future with confidence and hope, for "the Church, evangelization bearer, begins to evangelise itself , As a community of believers, as a communion of lived and preached hope, as a community of fraternal love, the Church must unceasingly hear for herself what she must believe, what are the reasons for her hope, and what the new commandment of love is.