Implementing Vatican II has been a primary goal of Pope Francis’ pontificate, especially after both John Paul II and Benedict XVI sought to slow or stall the pace of its implementation in what Benedict XVI called a “reform of the reform.” This constitution makes clear that the goals of Vatican II are the Curia’s goals, and Pope Francis frames the document as being in continuity with the post-Vatican II constitutions that preceded it (Sec. 1, Art. 3), but with an eye to the contemporary challenges facing the church.
Interestingly, the constitution bears no reference to winning converts or to Catholicism as the one true religion, favoring instead the Vatican II language of the “mystical body of Christ” and tasking the interreligious dialogue office with “promot[ing] among all people a true search for God” (Sec. 5, Art. 149).
This vision of evangelization rather than proselytism is vintage Francis: As he wrote in the programmatic document for his papacy, “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), “It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but ‘by attraction’” (No. 14).
Pope Francis is drawing on Vatican II to radically change how the Catholic Church is governed | America Magazine
Interestingly, the constitution bears no reference to winning converts or to Catholicism as the one true religion, favoring instead the Vatican II language of the “mystical body of Christ” and tasking the interreligious dialogue office with “promot[ing] among all people a true search for God” (Sec. 5, Art. 149).
This vision of evangelization rather than proselytism is vintage Francis: As he wrote in the programmatic document for his papacy, “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), “It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but ‘by attraction’” (No. 14).
Pope Francis is drawing on Vatican II to radically change how the Catholic Church is governed | America Magazine