Pope Francis: revitalising the Catholic church | The Guardian - 9 March 2014 |

After years of crisis, the Catholic church may have found itself a new saviour. But can Pope Francis really make a difference? Julian Coman reports from Rome

For the first time in 50 years, one of the most conservative institutions in the world may be opening itself up to different voices and to change, glacial though that process might seem to the outside world. In an interview with Antonio Spadaro, the Italian Jesuit and editor of La Civiltà Cattolica, Francis stated, as baldly as any pope could do, that the church, like any human institution, must be open to changing its mind.

"Human self-understanding changes with time," he told Spadaro. "Let us think of when slavery was accepted, or the death penalty was allowed without any problem." He added that "other sciences and their development help the church in its growth in understanding".

Little wonder then that Francis is inspiring optimism not seen since the heady days of Second Vatican Council. In the words of Tanner, the new pope is showing a willingness "to listen to what the world of the time (including the non-Catholic and non-Christian world) is saying and doing".

There is listening, though, and then there is acting. In Paul Vallely's masterly biography of Francis, Untying the Knots, the Argentine rabbi Abraham Skorka, who has known Bergoglio for more than two decades, tells Vallely: "He's totally aware that he must in some sense be a revolutionary pope, not only for the Catholic church, but for the whole of humanity." But revolutions require moments of decisive action. Just as church traditionalists have shaken their heads at a man who seems to prefer the title Bishop of Rome, there are also liberals who doubt that progressive intentions will translate into meaningful action. Linda Woodhead, professor of the sociology of religion at Lancaster University, is a Francis-sceptic.

"There is huge hope riding on this pope," she says. "But so far it has just been gestures. Everyone is holding their breath before the Synod in October. I think it is likely there may be movement on divorcees and the sacraments. But what about the role of women in the church? What about the church and its relation to gay people?" She points to the results of a survey of German Catholics, intended to inform debate at the Synod. The German bishops' report noted a huge disconnect between the laity and the church, "above all when it comes to premarital cohabitation, the status of the divorced and remarried, birth control and homosexuality".

Pope Francis: outsider whose reforming mission made him an ally of progressives | The Guardian - 21 April 2025 |

The pontiff took on church traditionalists and rightwing populism, making powerful enemies on the way

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