Pope calls for repentance over unsuccessful inculturation of faith

According to L’Osservatore Romano, Pope Francis has called on the Church to “ask forgiveness and look with much shame” over the way it often failed properly to inculturate the Catholic faith in non-European lands such as China, writes Robert Mickens.

The Pope made the remark on 29 November during a closed-door meeting with 120 heads of male religious orders at the end of a general assembly of the Rome-based Union of Superiors General (USG).

The Vatican paper said Francis spoke of “misunderstandings” in the area of inculturation and cited the “case of Matteo Ricci” (1552-1610). The Jesuit missionary to China’s methods were seen by the Vatican as too “accommodating” to a non-Christian culture.

A communiqué issued by the USG said the lengthy question-and-answer period between Pope Francis and religious superiors  touched upon “some of the current issues” concerning religious orders, including “the witness expected from religious life, relations with bishops, the importance of formation and mission on the ‘frontiers’”, and other issues.

Francis, a Jesuit, also announced plans for the Church to observe a Year for Consecrated Life in 2015.

* Pope Francis and his eight-member Council of Cardinals have held their second round of meetings by looking at Vatican offices in an effort to reorganise the Roman Curia. The Pope and his advisory group met from Tuesday to Thursday at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. They began their review of curial offices with the Congregation for Divine Worship.