Pope Francis is continuing what his predecessor John Paul II started in calling for a reform of the Church, according to Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna.
On Tuesday the Vatican released a document, known as an apostolic exhortation, in which the Pope urged global leaders to fight poverty and growing inequality, while also calling for a renewal of the Church.
Reviewing the role of the Papacy was something that John Paul II had already referred to in a document about ecumenism, entitled Ut Unum Sint, Mgr Scicluna noted.
“Pope John Paul II invited all the Churches to give input to the successor of Peter on how to exercise his role today,” he said, noting that Francis was continuing this “very important agenda”.
In the exhortation, Francis says he is seeking advice on how his role should change, adding it is time for “a conversion of the papacy”.
Mgr Scicluna noted that in recent years Popes have talked about structures needing to be reformed, as they are not the end in themselves but are there at the service of the Gospel.
The structures have to be renewed so they help us bring the Gospel to today’s humankind, he added.
Referring to the 84-page apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, Mgr Scicluna said “one gets a feeling of a shepherd who is trying to lead the Church into the new challenges that we face today with a great sense of mission and joy in the mission”.
“He’s also a great leader when it comes to following the Gospel. He challenges us to forget complacency and meet today’s challenges with trust in the Lord and great compassion.”
The Auxiliary Bishop said Francis wanted the Church to bring the mercy of God to humanity.
“So it’s not about condemning people but bringing the compassionate love of Jesus to humanity, which starts from a personal meeting with Jesus.”
When contacted, columnist Martin Scicluna said Pope Francis was determined to make the necessary changes to the Church and the way it was perceived.
Tuesday’s document follows the issue of a survey that the Vatican sent to dioceses around the world before an extraordinary meeting of bishops, known as a synod, on the theme of the family, scheduled for October 2014.
“I think the underlying message is that we are going to get a change in tone about issues like vanity, contraception and divorce, but I don’t anticipate that there will be a change in dogma,” Mr Scicluna said.
“Doctrine can change but dogma – what the Church stands for – will never change,” he added.
This change in tone, seen since March, was what had made Catholics feel more optimistic about the Pope, he said.