Pope Francis: A look at his provocative and brave statements

Pope Francis: A look at his provocative and brave statements

Rom, Italien - On March 13, 2013, Pope Francis took his office as 266. Bishop of Rome and surprised the world with simple, unexpected words: "Brothers and sisters, good evening. As you know, it was the obligation of the conclusion to give Rome a bishop." Since then he has proven to be a controversial and influential figure in the Catholic Church, which is revered by both the crowd and rejected by traditionalists. His continuous appeal is particularly striking to an "Aire Church and a Church for the Poor", which denounces the social and spiritual challenges of our time, such as Remszeitung.de reported.

The Pope has always taken radical positions. In July 2013, he said: "If someone is gay and he is looking for the Lord and shows good will, who am I to condemn it?" This openness to discuss sexuality in the church is also reflected in his statement: "No, I didn't want to become a Pope. A person who wants to become a Pope doesn't love himself." Francis often opposes the rigid structures of the Roman Curia and in December 2013 criticized the complacency of the hierarchy with the words: “A curia that does not criticize itself that does not develop, which does not try to improve, is a sick body.”

social responsibility and justice

The central issues of his term are social justice and responsibility towards the environment. At the UN Nutritional Conference in November 2014, he emphasized the responsibility for nature and criticized excessive consumption and waste in January 2015. His encyclical "Laudato Si", published in June 2015, warns of the consequences of the current lifestyle and demands real political change in the sense of charity. In a digital world, which is often used for surveillance instead of unity, he advocates supporting the weakest and condemning that they are reduced in their humanity, such as Vaticannews.de reported.

Francis calls for a return to the roots of charity and a dialogue that goes beyond heated debates on social networks. He notes that "the market alone cannot solve all problems; political solutions are also required." Political integrity is viewed as a form of charity, and he calls on politicians to ask themselves how much love they have put into their work and what positive effects they have achieved.

peace and global challenges

messages for peace and understanding beyond national borders are another trademark of Francis. Especially in the context of the Ukraine War, he demands courage to negotiate and emphasizes that peace is not created with weapons, but by opening the heart. His recent anticipations about humanity and global challenges were summarized in an urgent call: "forward, with joy!", And underlined the urgency of the current social and political upheavals. In summary, it can be seen that Pope Francis continues to play a key role despite resistance and challenges to lead the Catholic Church to a time of change. From strengthening social justice to the promotion of environmental protection, he presents himself as a critic of existing systems and as an advocate of the weakest. His words and deeds invite you to take responsibility and to preserve the values ​​of humanity.