It’s actually both. But if you’re a Jesuit, you’re going to focus on one or the other. Since we have a pope whose methodology is very Ignatian, we have to learn the Ignatian way of teaching and preaching. However, his charism is very Franciscan. We have to learn to think as Franciscans think. Otherwise, the pope and we are going to be like ships passing in the night. It’s easier for the many to accommodate to the one.
I’m not sure who you mean when you say that it sends confusing signals. Who is the recipient of these signals? If you mean clergy and religious, I have to tell you that today life was as usual in that quarter of the Church. Not a single memo, blog, superior, bishop spoke much about it. The understanding by those who are orthodox is that the pope can do whatever he wants to do, because he’s the pope and the rest of us peons have to do the red and say the black. Those who are a law unto themselves did not need to pope to send them any message. It’s extremely important to avoid thinking for priests and religious. Our way of looking at Rome and the pope is very different from your own, probably because our relationship with Rome and the pope is very different from your own.
People who are saying this are not very knowledgeable of theology. Those whose feet are washed are not serving as ministers at the altar. Women priests would be ministers. One would have to construct a very long bridge to connect those two ideas.
As to ammunition, you keep forgetting or you don’t want to consider that this pope is a religious, not a secular priest. Religious have always been taught that we ignore what the world thinks, wants or does and we do what we’re told to do. If you’re in charge, you do what is best for the moment in front of you. You don’t think beyond that moment, because it disrupts your interior silence.
Does a Jesuit pope care what the secular world thinks? If he did, he would not be a Jesuit. A Jesuit pope approaches the secular world as St. Ignatius would. He discerns the spirits found in the secular world. He follows those that draw him closer to Christ and he ignores those that draw him further from Christ. As the Jesuit grows closer to Christ, so does everyone around him. This is St. Ignatius’ model.
Thank you! I read the comments in Akin’s blog - holy COW - I can’t believe people are freaking out to this extreme. Catholics have certainly been put to the test over the past several years and I am stunned. The people who weathered the most foul scandals with such admirable faith - are shaken by a little cross-gender feet cleaning and a nod to the much needed reassurance that real change is happening. The Church got into trouble by focusing on self-preservation at the expense of innocents. Pope Francis is saying with actions and words that the duty of the Church is to serve Christ through helping the people that are desperate for the love of God. His acts of humility and grace are inspiring.