By Lavoisier Fernandes –
Apparently, the Italians have a proverb: “After a fat pope, a thin pope,” which essentially means that different men bring a different style and different personal qualities, and their sense of the issues they face and their understanding of the Petrine ministry itself,will have been shaped by their own life experiences.
The Pope, by God’s infinite imagination, is a man for his times. The Catholic Church throughout its history has had different popes, having different personalities, but always with an underlying continuity through the Magisterium (Ordinary, Conciliar and Pontifical Magisterium). We believe that the Church is not a political Institution, nor an Amazon like corporation headed by a white-robed CEO, but a divine body guided by the Holy Spirit speaking through the living Magisterium, albeit made up of men and women with human imperfections.
On 17th December, Pope Francis will celebrate his 88th birthday, whilst the Catholic Church continues into the 11th year of his pontificate. Whilst thanking God and reflecting on this Papacy, what comes to mind is the beautiful metaphor of Pope St. John XXIII, on the opening of the Second Vatican Council, where he said – “open the windows and let in the fresh air.” I would go a step further and add that Pope Francis in the last 11 years has not only built on the legacy of Vatican II and his predecessors but is also repositioning the Church by constantly challenging it to “think out of the box” but also simultaneously encouraging it to be rooted in the deposit of faith – continually guided by the Holy Spirit, so that the fresh air further circulates into all rooms, consequentially opening Church doors in an invitation to the heavenly wedding banquet (Mt 22:1–14), welcoming everyone (the Catholic Church is for “todos, todos, todos” — everyone, everyone, everyone).
Pope Francis’ papacy is centred on a mission of outreach, which is a continuous outreach to all people, not only by going out but also by inviting each one in a personal way to meet the Lord.
For those like me, who follow the Holy Father out of love for the Church or curiosity, there are certainly many accomplishments. Below are my 11 from Pope Francis’ first 11 years in office, as he celebrates his 88th birthday, listed in no particular order.
- More Marian Feast days
Pope Francis has a special devotion to Our Blessed Mother, and this is well-known, especially by his visits to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to venerate the famous icon of Our Lady, known as Salus Populi Romani before and after his international trips.
In 2018, Pope Francis added a new feast of Mary—the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church—to the Roman Calendar, which is celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost Sunday, taking it to 5 solemnities or feasts and 8 memorials.
- More women working in the Vatican
Under Pope Francis, the Vatican has made significant progress in increasing female representation within its workforce. As of now, there are 1,165 female employees, up from 846 in 2013. The percentage of women in the Vatican’s total workforce has risen from 19.2% to 23.4%. More than one in four employees in the Roman Curia is now a woman, totalling 812 out of 3,114. Notably, five women hold the rank of undersecretary, with Salesian Sister Alessandra Smerilli appointed as the first woman ever to hold the No. 2 position at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in 2021. This marks the highest position held by a woman at the Holy See.
- Engaging the peripheries beyond the traditional boundaries
Pope Francis is a Pope of gestures, especially his ecumenical and inter-religious outreach. Trips to Jerusalem, Turkey, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia were an outreach seeking peace with other faith communities. The visits to Bangladesh and Myanmar highlighted the plight of the Rohingya community and Christian persecution. The trips to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia focused on the on-going dialogue with other Protestants. Most recently, as a gesture of goodwill, he allowed the Archbishop of Canterbury to celebrate an Anglican Eucharist at the Catholic Church of St. Bartholomew on Tiber Island in Rome.
Pope Francis said that full restoration of communion among all the believers in Jesus Christ is an irrevocable commitment for every Christian, for the ‘unity of all’ and “to achieve full communion that will enable us one day, in God’s time, to gather together at the same Eucharistic table.”
- Extraordinary Jubilee 2015 and the Jubilee 2025
For Pope Francis, the key challenge is not avoiding mistakes but recognising them and learning from them. His approach to leadership emphasises humility and personal growth.
The Jubilee of 2025 will be the second under his papacy, following the 2015 Jubilee, which he initiated to highlight Jesus Christ’s message of mercy. This focus on mercy has had a profound impact, contributing to many returning to Christianity and the sacrament of confession, thanks to what many have called the “Pope Francis effect.”
- Promoting peace in a war zone world and denouncing the weapons industry
Pope Francis has consistently denounced wars and conflicts, whereas calling the weapons industry the “merchants of death.” The calls to stop the Israel-Hamas war have been consistent and ongoing. In a bid to stop the Ukraine war and depart from papal protocol, he visited the Russian embassy. So also, to promote peace in South Sudan – the Holy Father knelt to kiss the feet of South Sudanese leaders begging for peace.
From his weekly audiences, tweets, and Sunday Angelus to his historic visits to Iraq, Egypt, the UAE, and Sudan, they all have focused on the promotion of peace, coexistence, and the common good always moving through dialogue and negotiation.
- World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
The promotion of intergenerational communities, particularly with his attention to elderly populations, has been one of the flavours of his pontificate. In 2021, Pope Francis instituted a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which has been celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. The theme for the 4th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2024 was “Do Not Cast Me Off in My Old Age,” which comes from Psalm 71.
- Christian Morality: More Than Just the ‘Pelvic Issues
Pope Francis has shifted the status quo of Christian morality, recognising that it should not be only confined to issues often labelled as the “pelvic zone”—such as abortion, contraception, and homosexuality—while conveniently ignoring other morally serious issues like the death penalty, the Church’s stance on just war, euthanasia, immigration, corruption, environmental destruction, and social justice.
He said “We are all sinners. Why then draw up a list of sinners who can enter the church and a list of sinners who cannot be in the church? This is not the Gospel.” His approach challenges the traditional priorities of moral discourse, urging a more holistic understanding of Christian responsibility.
- Spoken out against the “throwaway culture” and highlights loneliness in the digital world
Pope Francis compared abortion to hiring a hitman and has called youth not to be slaves to mobile phones whilst being a vocal critic of the throwaway culture, especially in the loneliness of the digital world. Pope Francis has been blunt on the migration situation in Europe calling it a “fanaticism of indifference”. During a press conference aboard the papal plane from Marseille to Rome, he said “You don’t play with life, neither at the beginning nor at the end.”
- Lay ministry Rite for Catechist
The Holy Father recognises that the laity play a pivotal role in the mission of evangelisation and formation. In 2022 the Holy Father introduced a special liturgical rite for the institution of catechists: “Receive this sign of our faith, cathedra of the truth and love of Christ, and proclaim it with your life, your conduct and your word.”
- Fight against Human trafficking
As the world grapples with wars and poverty, one consistent theme of the Holy Father has been the fight against human trafficking which takes many forms in disguise, from organ trafficking to surrogacy, sex trade, and bonded cheap labour.
In 2015, Pope Francis introduced the Catholic Church’s annual observance on the liturgical memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, patron saint for victims of human trafficking, whie appealing to combat “the shameful scourge” of human trafficking, decrying that it “disfigures dignity.”
- Call to continue our love for the Holy Eucharist
The one than never makes the rounds among all the dramatised headlines is Pope Francis’ continuous call for us Catholics to love the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Father has delivered a whole series of catechesis on the Eucharist, also called for a Eucharistic Revival in his apostolic letter Desiderio Desideravi, dedicated to the liturgical formation of the people of God.
Pope Francis said, “The Eucharist is a bread for sinners and not a reward for saints and is meant to nourish those who are tired and hungry along the journey; let’s not forget this.”
Lavoisier Fernandes, born and raised in Goa, is currently based in West London. His faith is “work in progress”- and a lifelong journey. He has always been fascinated by the Catholic faith, thanks to his Salesian schooling. He’s passionate about podcasting, theology, the papacy, and volunteering. He has hosted ‘Talking Faith’ series for Heavens Road FM, Catholic Radio, connecting with ordinary men and women within the Catholic faith, other faiths and examining issues affecting both the Church and society. He has also been a host on Shalom World Catholic TV for two episodes of the ‘Heart Talk’ series. He presently contributes for the Goa Diocesan magazine Renevacao.