Scottish Catholic Observer

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, better known as Pope Francis, is the first member of the Jesuit Order to be elected Pope of the Catholic Church. He is also the first South American to hold the office and he has chosen humble Ecuador to be the first Latin American country to visit during his papacy.

You can be forgiven for thinking that the news would have put the country in unprecedented turmoil, in a state of euphoric expectation but it would seem that the impact of the Papal visit has not yet been fully assimilated. This is due partly due to the rather tense relationship between many of the most influential bishops and the national government. The Church, which during the years had provided education and health services in the most deprived areas of the country, find hostile government officials trying to impose urban rules and regulations in rural areas where providing for minimum hygiene conditions and adequate class space are an unachievable challenge. The insistence, for instance, on having two doors on every toilet in a situation where, just a few years ago, the available toilet was a nearby bush does not appear to school administrators a priority.

Some government officials give the impression that religion should be confined to inside the church building and no further. Hymns should only be sung in the privacy of the shower and never in public is the attitude of others. At the same time, the government is making every effort to appear as the real protagonists of the Papal visit. Every politician realises that an appearance with Pope Francis sums up a number of much desired votes. All this has led to a subdued state of confusion amongst the general population.

People refer to the visit of Pope John Paul, of 30 years ago, with love and longing. The country was then more united. Pressure groups (gays, greens, feminists, leftists and rightists) were not so prominent and the social media, which propagates so many contradictory voices and opinions, simply did not exist—social innocence has become a memory of a state of mind now forgotten. St John Paul awakened the conscience of the population and, for the first time, the youth became a force in the country and in the Church; movements for social justice were strengthened and it would appear that people started to think more of what they wanted for their country and for themselves in the future and look beyond the difficulties and problems of the present. The beginnings of a social revolution were ignited in Ecuador.

It would appear improbable, but I think that Pope Francis has captivated the imagination of the world even more than any of his predecessors. The social and mass media have projected the figure of Francis with such force that no government, country or population can ignore him. Even TIME magazine, which many regard as world leader in magazines, reckon that the Pope’s influence is greater than any world politician including President Obama. The Pope does not make political pronouncements but he has a vision of the Church that goes beyond the sacristy door. He speaks of a Church open to the world, welcoming all and excluding no one; a Church aware of a gospel message which has to be announced to all people and especially those who are most alienated from God. He takes issue with the state of inequality in society and states with clarity that much more has to be done by governments and society for those living in deprivation; for countries impoverished by our economic theories; for migrants escaping wars and destitution and enduring indescribable hardships and distress in their quest for a better life: ‘They also are men and women like ourselves’ was the his comment while appealing for help for the hundreds drowned in the Mediterranean. The Pope, like the apostle James, states clearly that faith without good works is vain and empty. James 2, 14-24.

So much for generalisations but what are we doing at the level of parish? Personally I consider that the Papal visit must be an occasion of grace for the country and the parish. At the same time it is necessary to spell out this most important aspect of the visit. As a start I had big banners printed in each of the churches relating the parish to the Papal visit. Then, on Saturday, June 6 we had a pregon of the visit through the parish. A pregon is a kind of public march announcing the activities programmed for the Papal visit. The pregon lasted four hours and we stopped at four strategic spots where we had songs, music, theatrical sketches with a message, prayers and scripture readings.

The theme for the event was the family. We started off portraying the different types of ‘marital unions’ that are common in Ecuador. The first was what is known as the ‘free union:’ two young people appeared on the stage in an ‘amorous clutch’ exchanging sweet nothings till suddenly the girl jumps up saying, “I cannot go home at this late hour or my father will kill me. What can I do”? The boy replies, “You are right. We have had such a loving time together tonight and I want this to last for the rest of my life. Come and stay with me and I will protect you”. And so they go off together as a married couple.

The second ‘union’ is before an unconcerned registrar. The girl wants a church marriage but the boy insists that they will wait till they ‘see how it works out.’ The registrar says that he does not care about ‘how it works out.’ “Just sign here and be off with you,” there is a football match on the telly. The third union was presented with the bride and groom in full regalia and with the greatest solemnity they went through the marriage rite before a ‘priest’ appearing with all the trappings. A discussion followed where the merits and demerits of marriage were freely discussed and then we had readings from scripture and the thoughts of the Pope regarding marriage was read and commented on.

At the other stations we analysed the role of parents; love and understanding in the home; and youth in the home and in society. We programmed Liturgical penitential services; conferences on the new attitude to old and established doctrines and church practices inherent in the Pope’s vision for the Church in the future but comment on these proposals will have to remain to a future date.

—If anyone wishes to support Fr Colin MacInnes’ missionary effort, donations can be made out to Scottish Catholic Observer Charity Appeal, 19 Waterloo St, Glasgow, G2 6BT