杏MAP导航

By Alessandro Gisotti

Spanish by birth and Jesuit by vocation, Archbishop Ladaria SJ spent over 30 years teaching theology in Spain and at Rome鈥檚 Pontifical Gregorian University. In 2004, 杏MAP导航 St John Paul II appointed him Secretary-General of the International Theological Commission. Last year, 杏MAP导航 Francis made him Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

What is it like being Prefect of this Congregation under 杏MAP导航 Francis?

As far as I am concerned, it鈥檚 a simple question of obedience. 杏MAP导航 Francis called me and told me his decision, and I said: "Holy Father, if that鈥檚 what you have decided, I accept and say no more". So that鈥檚 the first thing. Of course it is a responsibility and I must say that the first few days I did not sleep too well... But slowly you get used to the idea and see that it is possible, especially knowing this is what the 杏MAP导航 wants. So it鈥檚 better not to think too much about it: the whole thing is done and dusted!

Does being a fellow Jesuit help you work better with 杏MAP导航 Francis?

There are affinities, of course: like our formation, or people we know in common. This does help. The Holy Father and I did not know one another. We saw each other once, I think, before his election, when he came to Rome with the other Bishops of Argentina on their ad limina visit. Like all Episcopal Conferences when they come for their ad limina, they also visited the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. I was already Secretary at the Congregation and we met for the first time on that occasion. So yes, there is an affinity and this make the relationship easier. However, I must say this is by chance: the 杏MAP导航 is the 杏MAP导航! Whether he's a Jesuit or not makes no difference to me: the 杏MAP导航 is the 杏MAP导航. So it (being a fellow Jesuit) can help, but it's by chance: it doesn鈥檛 change the substance.

The 杏MAP导航 has described your work as having a 鈥減astoral face鈥�. What does that mean?

It (having a pastoral face) does not affect the work itself directly, but the way this work is done. There is clearly a pastoral dimension. We have the task of promoting and defending the Faith, preaching the Faith. This is an eminently pastoral role. It involves promoting the Catholic Faith so that it is increasingly known and, when there are problems, defending this Faith as well. Many times I heard 杏MAP导航 Benedict XVI, when he was Cardinal Ratzinger and Prefect of the Congregation, say that "we must defend the Faith of simple believers, not the Faith of theologians". They already have their ways of knowing how things are! It seems to me that this is a very valid and correct intuition. So that description of 杏MAP导航 Francis is easy to understand. Naturally, we also deal with disciplinary matters that have a great impact on many people and so, here too, we have an eminently pastoral role. Of course, this does not mean we do not have to make a close study of the dossiers, but we do so with the salus animarum (鈥渟alvation of souls鈥�) in mind always. This is always the primary purpose of all our work.

What does the reform of the Curia mean for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?

We have not yet received directives related to us鈥� When we do, we will accept them willingly and cooperate accordingly, as always. Our collaboration with 杏MAP导航 Francis will be total, of course, but we have received no concrete indications as yet. When we do, we will accept them happily.

How does the pontificate of 杏MAP导航 Francis affect you as a priest and bishop?

As a priest, I see the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 closeness to the people, so close to the People of God. He has such a pastoral face and, for me, this is an invitation to be, and to feel that we too are, Pastors of the People of God. The 杏MAP导航 often says that shepherds must smell like their sheep. And this also helps us feel close to the People of God, because we are at his service. The 杏MAP导航 also says it鈥檚 like a pyramid: the base is everyone, then there are a few who are at the service of the many. Not the other way around. It鈥檚 a pyramid in reverse. I think this is a very beautiful image and I believe it can help all of us, if we take it seriously, to make our own ministry more pastoral.

Translated by Seàn-Patrick Lovett