Pope Francis: "I am a sinner"

Last August, Antonio Spadaro, S.J., gained an exclusive interview with Pope Francis for American Magazine. The interview, “A Big Heart Open to God,” was published on Sept. 19 and covers three separate conversations in Rome.

The dialogue spoke to my heart on many topics: women in the Church, the importance of religious life, embodying the teachings of Jesus, intergenerational faith expressions, the Church as respite in spiritual combat and encountering God in the mundane. The Church is often misunderstood on many theological and social topics, especially on hot-button topics like abortion, same-sex marriage and divorce. But Francis focuses on a holistic approach to religion that ignites and astounds me.

Reading and re-reading the Pope’s simple but profound words caused me to reflect on three distinct topics: being a saved sinner, the process of discernment and the importance of community.

When asked, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” the Pope paused, thoughtful for a long time. Finally he said, “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition. It is not a figure of speech, a literary genre. I am a sinner.”

Perhaps that was not the answer many would have expected. We have noticed that he is humble, but a sinner like all of us?

The word “sinner” has a negative connotation. We might imagine a sinner to be an unloved, exiled human with a bleak future. But that is not entirely true. Yes, we are imperfect, but that doesn’t mean we are unloved. On the contrary, we are loved beyond imagination but we often lose sight of God's unconditional love in our fall from grace. Acknowledgment of sinfulness is a sign of our dependence on God, a necessary ingredient for humility in the presence of something bigger than ourselves.

Recognizing this common misunderstanding, Francis adds, “I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon.” He repeats for emphasis, “I am one who is looked upon by the Lord.”

The Pope helps us understand that we recognize our sins not just because we want to be healed but, more importantly, because we want to mend our relationship with Christ. Forgiveness — forgiving and being forgiven — is at the centre of our faith.

The Pope's interview reflects more of a change in papal attitude than in doctrine, according to Fr. Thomas Reese in an interview with National Public Radio. Reese says Francis' vision of the Church is that of a warm, welcoming mother instead of a nagging parent.

This new attitude is apparent in the most widely reported (and misunderstood) comment of the Pope's interview, when he said: “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible.” In other words, while a "son of the Church" is always faithful to Church teaching, Catholics need to embody Christ’s central message. It is less about focussing on what others have done and more about what we can do to embody Christ’s teachings. It is less about pointing fingers and more about embracing.

The America Magazine interview is absolutely full of topics that we have been waiting to hear about, yet the secular media largely ignored them and stubbornly focused on the hot-buttons topics once again. We need to re-shape our thinking and consider the big picture. There is hope for a future full of life, mercy and understanding.

As the Pope said: “We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow.”

It is a call to focus on the Lord, and get back to basics.