The theologian Bruno Forte
«I think that the next Pope must have three main characteristics: the continuity with the work of Pope Francis; the ability to offer an original contribution in the deepening of faith and in enhancing evangelization and catechesis; And the sensitivity towards the dimension of world championship, a characteristic trait of Bergoglio’s pontificate, as has been seen in a significant way also in the celebration of his funeral “.
It is Monsignor’s opinion Bruno Fortetheologian and archbishop of Chieti – Vasto, who participated in the Synods on the family, on young people and the synodities called up by Bergoglio, and recently presented the encyclical by the Pope’s will Dilexit nos.
Excellence, let’s start with continuity with the Argentine pontiff.
«It is an essential trait. In recent years Pope Francis has made many choices and created openings that must be carried out, deepened and developed in an orderly and firm way. In addition, his successor will have to offer an original contribution especially on the internal front, promoting a renewed momentum in the deepening of faith, in the commitment of evangelization and in the catechesis, on which it seems to me there is a lot of expectation from local churches “.
Pope Francis of himself said first of all that he was bishop of Rome.
«Yes, but the government emergencies, and not only, with whom he had to confront each other did not allow him to devote himself as he would have liked to the priests and people of his diocese. Visits to the parishes, numerous in the early years, also thinned out subsequently, also because of a crowded agenda and health conditions. The next Pope will have to keep his being a pastor of the Church of Rome into great consideration and cultivate this dimension in an even stronger and more intense way ».
The worldwide is another trait to carry on.
“The pontificate and the funeral of Bergoglio have been a visible sign of this dimension of the Pope’s mission. If many powerful power of the earth and political leaders have arrived in St. Peter from all over the world, if it has been there, and continues to be there, a planetary media attention, it means that Francesco has touched themes and advanced challenges that concern the whole world: a West in crisis in need of rediscovering some founding values compared to the themes of the dignity of the dignity of the dignity of the person of the person and peace; the need to involve young people in a fascinating and captivating way; The challenge of the relationship with Islam, continuing the dialogue carried out in these years by Francesco and, finally, the ecumenical dimension that has made significant progress, but which still has important appointments, not only on the path of recognition of the role of the bishop of Rome in the universal communion of the churches, but also at the service of the unity of Christians, which the global village invokes and asks “.
An aspect that emerged in these days of general congregations is that of the government and the Roman Curia.
«I believe that the new Pope will have to develop a relationship with the most intense and direct curia. Francesco, thanks to his personality, made many choices in solitude and not infrequently “displacing” his own secretary of state, Cardinal Parolin, who often declared that he had learned from the media news about important choices made by the Pope. It is necessary to find a closer and more profitable collaboration between the successor of Peter and his collaborators “.
Synodality, on which Bergoglio has accelerated in recent years, is another central theme.
«The synodal method implies three criteria: to recognize the dignity of each of the protagonists, of each baptized in local churches, local churches in the universal church and of every interlocutor in the world. On the synodality, then, there is a lot to work and the ability to listen and dialogue are needed to say without hesitation and without reductionism the truth of the Gospel that we are called to announce. Finally, synodality is a challenge that is not played in the immediate time: it is a question of learning to listen and work together, which represents an urgent instance in the face of an increasingly shattered and multipolar world “.
Is a cardinal college so crowded and with many purple from all over the world is an obstacle to make synthesis?
“I think not. There are three objective elements to be taken into account in the choice to be made. The first is that the pope who will be elected cannot be very young, because this would imply a very long pontificate. The Church certainly needs stability, but also of constant renewal. The second is that, being bishop of Rome, the new Pope must know the Italian language, a prerequisite that not all the purple have. The third is the universal perspective that in Pope Francis was born from an almost natural charisma, but that his successor will have to face even by helping from selected collaborators, who have the ability to feel the problems and identify proposals and solutions. We need a sort of permanent synodal form, similar to the Council of Cardinals who created Francesco during his pontificate ».
