A leading American theologian argues that Pope Francis’ distinctive vision of the Church as ‘the pilgrim people of God’ underpins his reforms / By Bradford E. Hinze

The number of Catholics who remember that Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council by praying for a new outpouring of the Spirit in the Church is dwindling. That was in 1962. For over twenty years afterwards many believed that this new Pentecost was coming. This was due in no small part to the council’s recovery of a biblical vision of the Church as a pilgrim people of God, with each of its members anointed by the Spirit at baptism to become an active participant in Jesus Christ’s prophetic, priestly, and kingly roles. A closely related insight was the reclamation of the collegial role of bishops, who accompany and lead this people on their journey. 

In the heady decades after the council, these newly-rediscovered teachings about the nature of the Church inspired myriad reforms. The concept of collegiality inspired the recovery of the ancient idea of the synod of bishops, where representatives of local churches would gather to deliberate and make decisions about the issues facing the universal church. Collegiality also accelerated the development of national and regional episcopal conferences. The vision of the Church as the people of God also provided the catalyst for much greater engagement in ecclesial life and mission by lay men and women: their expanded participation in parish councils, in diocesan councils and synods, in lay pastoral, liturgical, and formation ministries, their embrace of the study of theology, and their assumption of leadership roles in works of mercy and in campaigning for justice. It was an exciting period of renewal and experimentation, of partnership and of growth. It was exhilarating; often untidy, and sometimes a little frightening. There were mistakes of taste and of judgement. But, for many Catholics, this was the Holy Spirit at work.