A Pope for the People of God?

As a champion of the poor Bergoglio,
must have been surprised when JP II and Cardinal Ratzinger both finally condemned
liberation theology, in the mid eighties, as a hardcore Marxist idea.  While the Jesuit order has also been
outspoken against centralization of the Church during the reign of JP II and
Benedict XVI it is too early to state with any certainty if this remains an ideal
to be followed with Francis I. Such liberating ideals were also reflected by some
former Jesuits such a Michael Walsh when he spoke out against Roman Catholic
elitist groups such as Opus Dei claiming that “the basic tenet of Christianity is that faith in Jesus Christ should be
a liberating force in people’s lives, that it should free them to become more
themselves, more in charge of their own destinies”.  Should Francis I desire a return to a more
humble institution it would certainly signal a significant change from the hard
line rule introduced by his predecessors.

The conflict in theologies handled
under the direction of Pope John Paul II and Joseph Ratzinger as head of the Office
for the Doctrine of the Faith numerous notable Jesuits led many Jesuits being removed
or silenced. These included such notables as Jon Sobrino, Jacques Dupres,
Thomas Reese,  Karl Rahner, Fr. John
McNeill, David Hollenbach, Anthony de Mello, Fr. Roger Haight, Fr. Paul
Valadier, Jacques Dupuis, Fr. Bill Callahan, Fr. Pedro Arrupe.

The Jesuit Society remains the
largest order in the church today with nearly twenty thousand members. It’s
very success also created problems.  It
has been so influential that it often ran afoul of both secular and Vatican
authorities.  Is it possible that Francis
I may be the Pope to finally challenge the Curia and with the
guidance of the
Holy Spirit and head the church in a new spirit filled direction?  Will
he be(come) a modern church leader for the People of God, a Pope for the
times?



when religion fails: Francis I - a Pope for the People of God?