Pope Francis wants more women to possess high positions in the Vatican and Church, but has clarified that this doesn’t mean ‘masculinism in a skirt.’
In a wide-ranging interview with Reuters, published June 20, 2018, the Pope commented on this and various other topics, including US immigration policy, China, internal critics in the Church, and Vatican reform.
When asked his view on the recent US policy of zero-tolerance illegal immigration into the US, which has led to separating children from parents, who had entered illegally, the Pope disagreed with the policy.
“It’s not easy, but populism is not the solution.”
“I am on the side of the bishops’ conference,” the pope said. “Let it be clear that in these things, I respect (the position of) the bishops’ conference.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had published statements earlier this month.
The Holy Father also noted that it is very possible that he may accept more resignations from Chilean bishops who had resigned in wake of the Chilean sex abuse scandals and cover ups.
Moreover, Francis alluded to a future potential historic agreement that could be made between the Vatican and China.
Also, responding to questions about immigration into Europe, the Pope observed that without immigration, ‘Europe will become empty.’
The Holy Father also responded to questions regarding those in the Church who have accused him of being too liberal on Church teaching and creating confusion on moral issues, especially with the Apostolic Exhortation on the family Amoris Laetitia’s Chapter 8. The interview recalled that US Cardinal Raymond Burke, along with three other cardinals, sent a letter to the Pope (The Dubia), in which they asked him to clarify certain themes on moral issues.
Regarding the letter, Francis said he had heard about it “from newspapers.” He said it is “a way of doing things that is, let’s say, not ecclesial, but we all make mistakes.”
The Holy Father, Reuters noted, referred to when a late Italian cardinal who used an analogy to compare the Church to a flowing river, with room for different views.
“We have to be respectful and tolerant, and if someone is in the river, let’s move forward,” he said.
The Holy Father also applauded some of the recent measures completed to reform the Roman Curia, but he noted that still “we have to work more.” Pope Francis noted that much progress has been achieved in reforming the financial institutions and making them transparent. The Vatican Bank, he pointed out, “now works well.”
The Pope said: “There have been some struggles and I have had to make some strong decisions.”
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Interview article (being updated continuously, but unlikely to be published in its entirety):
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-interview/exclusive-pope-criticizes-trump-administration-policy-on-migrant-family-separation-idUSKBN1JG0YC
Interview article on Pope’s discussing China (being updated continuously, but unlikely to be published in its entirety): https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pope-interview-china-exclusive/exclusive-pope-says-china-talks-going-well-dialogue-worth-the-risk-idUSKBN1JG1BV
