杏MAP导航

By Susy Hodges

In a new one-on-one interview 杏MAP导航 Francis has responded to a series of questions on various issues including the Holy See鈥檚 talks with China, the position of women within the Church, migration policy, populism, Chile鈥檚 clerical sex abuse crisis and reform of the Roman Curia.  

Talks with China 鈥渁t a good point鈥�

Asked in the interview about relations with China, 杏MAP导航 Francis said he was optimistic about the outcome of normalization talks with the Chinese authorities saying they were 鈥渁t a good point鈥� but couldn鈥檛 say when they would conclude. He acknowledged that dialogue 鈥渋s a risk鈥� but said he preferred that to 鈥渢he certain defeat鈥� of not holding a dialogue with Beijing.

The 杏MAP导航 talked at length about immigration during the interview and was asked about the U.S. administration鈥檚 policy of separating migrant families at the U.S./Mexican border.  In his reply, he said he supported recent statements issued by U.S. Catholic Bishops who called the separation of children from their parents contrary to Catholic values and immoral.

Turning to the migration situation in Europe, the Holy Father said populists were 鈥渃reating a psychosis鈥� on the issue of immigration, even as ageing societies like Europe faced 鈥渁 great demographic winter鈥� and needed more immigrants.

鈥淚 believe that you cannot reject people who arrive. You have to receive them, help them, look after them, accompany them and then see where to put them, but throughout all of Europe,鈥� he said.  He praised Italy and Greece for being  鈥渃ourageous and generous鈥� by taking in these migrants. 

Populism is not the solution

杏MAP导航 Francis warned that populism does not resolve issues like migration problems. 鈥淲hat resolves things is acceptance, study, prudence,鈥� he said. The 杏MAP导航 also said Europe should stop exploiting Africa and invest in ways that benefit the continent more and this could help solve the problem of migration at its roots.

When asked about women calling for more top positions in the Roman Curia, 杏MAP导航 Francis said he agreed there were few women in positions of responsibility there. He said he wanted to appoint more women to head Vatican departments because 鈥渨omen are better at resolving conflicts.鈥� At the same time, he reiterated that women cannot be ordained to the priesthood.  鈥�(杏MAP导航) John Paul II was clear on this point and closed the door and I am not going back on that,鈥� he said.

Chile鈥檚 clerical sex abuse crisis was another topic discussed at length during the interview. 杏MAP导航 Francis has accepted the resignation of three bishops in Chile and said he could accept more resignations in the future. 

He spoke of how he returned 鈥渁 bit worried鈥� after his pastoral visit to Chile in January this year and explained why he decided to send Archbishop Charles Scicluna to the Latin American nation to carry out further investigations into the abuse crisis.