The Holy Father not only accepts the Church’s teaching on the right to life but strongly endorses it.

The Papal Interview: 

A Survey of Reactions

by Joseph Meaney

The latest exclusive papal interview published in the Jesuit journal La Civiltà Cattolica and in translation by 16 other Jesuit publications around the world, resembles the interview on the papal plane returning from the Rio de Janeiro World Youth Days. In both cases the pope fielded a wide range of questions and spoke extensively; 10,000 words on the plane and 12,000 for the Jesuit periodicals. Similarly, abortion and homosexuality were only addressed in a few words in each. This briefest of papal messages was, however, strikingly in the same vein.

He replied thus on the plane to a Brazilian journalist who asked why he had not spoken about abortion or same-sex marriage in Brazil?: “The Church has already spoken quite clearly on this. It was unnecessary to return to it, just as I didn’t speak about cheating, lying, or other matters on which the Church has a clear teaching!” When Patricia Zorzan followed up saying, “But the young are interested in this” he answered: “Yes, though it wasn’t necessary to speak of it, but rather of the positive things that open up the path to young people. Isn’t that right! Besides, young people know perfectly well what the Church’s position is.” She even followed up a second time: “What is Your Holiness’ position, if we may ask?” “The position of the Church. I am a son of the Church.”

To Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, Pope Francis said: “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible. I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.”

In both cases the Holy Father affirms that the Church’s teaching is clear and that he is a son of the Church, but he is averse to speaking often about them. Despite both these interviews having a “speaking off the cuff” feel to them, the latest one was the fruit of three sessions that each went on for several hours. He was then given the opportunity to read over the text and approved it for publication. Pope Francis really seems to want to talk less about issues like abortion, homosexuality and contraception and more about other topics like the infinite mercy of God.

That may be what he intended, but it was not the result. Headlines around the world, but especially in the USA, trumpeted variations on the theme chosen by the New York Times: “Pope Says Church Is ‘Obsessed’ With Gays, Abortion and Birth Control.” It is interesting to note, however, that the European press generally had a much less radical take on the papal interview. In Italy, where the original language text was published, journalists emphasized other aspects like the “I am a sinner” affirmation of the pope or spoke about mercy or “openness” on the issues of abortion, homosexuality and divorce. France’s largest newspaper, Le Figaro, posed some thoughtful questions about what the interview means for Catholic moral teaching and Traditionalists as well as wondering if it was not meant primarily for a Jesuit audience rather than for the Church at large. The BBC, as one might expect, simply parroted the North American mainstream media line with a British accent.

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