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Francesco. Twelve Years Later
By Antonio Autiero
Apprehensions about his poor health in recent weeks bring Pope Francis particularly close to the consciousness of humanity, and not only portion professing to be Catholic. The way of exercising his function as pope has made Francis an indispensable voice in narrating the history we live. It has given his message and style value, recognized by all as moral leadership for understanding and facing what he (borrowing the term from French sociologist and philosopher Edgar Morin) calls polycrisis.
In the 12 years of his papacy, Francis has educated us to look with a disenchanted eye at the dramatic interweaving in which issues of global significance converge, such as wars, climate change, the depletion of energy resources, epidemics, migration, and the emergence of technological innovations. …
How the Papacy of the First Jesuit Pope Will Be Remembered in the Distant Future
By Rev. Thomas Massaro
… Many further achievements of Pope Francis, both within the church and beyond its internal life, could be listed: his tireless advocacy for worker justice, his heartfelt efforts to counteract economic inequality, and his emphasis on strengthening family life, among many others. He will surely be remembered even centuries from now as a highly effective church leader with numerous accomplishments to his credit. What binds together all these distinct contributions is the traditional papal title of Pontifex Maximus—the great bridge-builder—for that is precisely the role that Francis has played from the first moments of his papacy in 2013. He has brought people together in so many ways, skillfully and patiently leading them to engage in genuine dialogue, to respect the earth, to promote the well-being of our most marginalized neighbors, and ultimately to grow closer to God.
Almost 20 years ago, Pope Benedict XVI published his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est (“God Is Love”) (DC 2005). In this encyclical, Benedict XVI referred to a Christian faith as one that “sees the love of God revealed in the pierced heart of Jesus on the Cross” and “gives rise to love” (DC, para. 39). In his latest encyclical, Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”) (DN) published on 24 October 2024, Pope Francis continues his predecessor’s focus on divine and human love, as revealed most clearly in the heart of Jesus.
Human hearts are not preestablished; rather, they must be formed and cultivated through attentiveness to others. This process solicits an appreciation for the virtue of patience. Francis notes how a return to the heart thus offers an essential corrective to societies in which people’s lives are increasingly “hectic,” “bombarded by technology,” and thereby “lacking in the patience” needed to cultivate a virtuous interior life (DN, para. 9).
Sharia Court Adjudication: Gendered Perspective
By Kyriaki Topidi
… Overall, the conflicting interpretation of religious norms that enjoy state-law recognition should be viewed more holistically as a process depending on numerous factors. The issue from a normative perspective tends to be perceived, not always accurately, as located within Islam itself, but in reality political interests, local culture, socioeconomic backgrounds, and gender considerations, as well as religious dogma, shape the interpretation and use of such norms.
From the perspective of the state, the Greek model in its post-2018 frame still struggles to resolve the issues of consent (i.e., to what extent those using the religious judicial system genuinely wish to do so), of agency (i.e., on what basis members of a religious minority decide to forum shop between jurisdictions), and of the broader compatibility of human rights with Islamic family law. Answers to these questions should advise and guide future reform of sharia courts in Greece.
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