In the December 6, 2013 issue of the Catholic Universe Bulletin I wrote my article on Pope Francis? recent document entitled Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). In a way this publication is the Pope?s first official document of his pontificate.
Before Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected Pope and became our Holy Father and known as Pope Francis, there was a Synod called by Pope Benedict XVI which was held in Rome from the 7th to the 28th of October in 2012. The theme of the Synod was ?The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Faith.?
The procedure the Church embraces in having a Synod involves Bishops from around the world gathering in Rome with the Holy Father to discuss particular important matters in the Church. The participants come prepared to listen to one another?s views on the topic under discussion and to add to the exchange of sharing their views for the benefit of all present.
This Synod-wide exchange is followed by the Bishops gathering into groups based upon language for deeper sharing and discussion, and to begin the process for formulating proposals for the Pope?s consideration for further attention.
Near the end of the Synod the Bishops as a group present to the Holy Father their thoughts on the topic. Over the years of having Synods the Holy Father who convened the Synod was the Holy Father who received the official presentation from the Bishops and was the Holy Father who responded usually by means of an Apostolic Exhortation addressed to all the Christian Faithful. However, the process with the Synod held in 2012 was different. The Holy Father who convened the Synod resigned after the Synod had taken place. Our new Holy Father Francis is the one who has received the contributions of the Synod Bishops, and in this official document reflects upon what he received and now shares with all the Faithful. Thus, Evangelii Gaudium.
In the article I wrote for the December issue of our paper I indicated I would be offering several articles on this document as I believe what Pope Francis has given to us is truly a gift which we can all benefit from as we reflect upon his thoughts on this very important part of our Catholic Faith.
While the first point I wish to mention may seem self-evident, I believe it is worth noting. This point focuses on the continuity of the Church?s teaching on Evangelization through the centuries beginning with Jesus? teachings on the Kingdom and the Apostles? teachings on Pentecost about Jesus Christ.
In our own time over the past fifty years there has been a strong continued emphasis on Evangelization beginning with the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and in the teachings of our Holy Fathers beginning with Paul VI, carried on by John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now with Francis in this first document of his.
This focus on Evangelization cannot but help all of us appreciate the significance of Evangelization if we are to be serious at all about our faith. Serious not only for its role in our lives which goes without saying, but also for the desire we should have to share our faith with others lest we be accused of limiting people from experiencing what is such a treasure in our own lives.
Pope Francis identifies three categories of persons for whom we need to be evangelizers. First, he speaks of people who have a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ. He lays out that even they need to continue to grow in their faith, in their relationship with the Lord.
Second, our Holy Father challenges us to help those who are baptized and regrettably do not have a meaningful relationship with the Lord. All of us need to help these people appreciate what they have and are not living it to their full benefit.
Lastly, Pope Francis reminds all of us to be committed to Evangelization which ?is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ.? We have a duty to live and proclaim the Gospel for the good of all.
As you can readily see, Pope Francis is serious about this teaching.
We will continue our thoughts in the next column about Evangelii Gaudium.
(The above column by the Most Reverend Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland originally appeared in the Friday, January 24, 2014 issue of the Catholic Universe Bulletin, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Cleveland.)