Pope Francis has emphasized the difference between bishops\u2019 conferences and bishops in a new interview with America Magazine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bishops\u2019 conference is there to bring together the bishops, to work together, to discuss issues, to make pastoral plans. But each bishop is a pastor,\u201d the pope said in a lengthy interview conducted at his Vatican home on Nov. 22 and published Nov. 28.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us not dissolve the power of the bishop by reducing it to the power of the bishops\u2019 conference.\u201d<\/p>\n
The conversation with the Jesuit publication covered a wide range of topics, including the role of bishops, racism, polarization, sexual abuse, the Vatican-China deal, and whether he has any regrets from his time as pope.<\/p>\n
In the interview, Pope Francis was told about a 2021 America Magazine survey that found that Catholics in the United States consider the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to be the least trustworthy out of the groups listed \u2014 20% of U.S. Catholics surveyed found the USCCB to be \u201cvery trustworthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Francis was asked: \u201cHow can the U.S. Catholic bishops regain the trust of American Catholics?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question is good because it speaks about the bishops,\u201d he responded. \u201cBut I think it is misleading to speak of the relationship between Catholics and the bishops\u2019 conference. The bishops\u2019 conference is not the pastor; the pastor is the bishop. So one runs the risk of diminishing the authority of the bishop when you look only to the bishops\u2019 conference.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus did not create bishops\u2019 conferences,\u201d he added. \u201cJesus created bishops, and each bishop is pastor of his people.\u201d<\/p>\n
The U.S. bishops met in Baltimore for their annual fall general assembly on Nov. 14-17. Katie Yoder<\/p>\n
Pope Francis said the emphasis should be on whether a bishop has a good relationship with his people, not on administration.<\/p>\n
He gave the example of Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas: \u201cI do not know if he is conservative, or if he is progressive, if he is of the right or of the left, but he is a good pastor.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the U.S., the pope said, there are \u2018some good bishops who are more on the right, some good bishops who are more on the left, but they are more bishops than ideologues; they are more pastors than ideologues. That is the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe grace of Jesus Christ is in the relationship between the bishop and his people, his diocese,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A bishops\u2019 conference, instead, is an organization meant to \u201cassist and unite.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Francis was also asked whether the USCCB should prioritize the fight against abortion over other issues.<\/p>\n
To which he said: \u201cthis is a problem the bishops\u2019 conference has to resolve within itself.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope pointed out that the activity of a bishops\u2019 conference is on the organizational level, and in history, conferences have at times gotten things wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, let this be clear: A bishops\u2019 conference has, ordinarily, to give its opinion on faith and traditions, but above all on diocesan administration and so on,\u201d he said, again emphasizing the sacramental nature of the pastoral relationship of a bishop to his diocese and its people.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd this cannot be delegated to the bishops\u2019 conference,\u201d he added. \u201cThe conference helps to organize meetings, and these are very important; but for a bishop, [being] pastor is most important.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the interview, Pope Francis also denounced polarization as \u201cnot Catholic,\u201d and said the Catholic way of dealing with sin is \u201cnot puritanical\u201d but puts saints and sinners together.<\/p>\n
He also said in the U.S., where there is a Catholicism particular to that country, something he called \u201cnormal,\u201d \u201cyou also have some ideological Catholic groups.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pope Francis arrives at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Sept. 23, 2015. CNA<\/p>\n
On the topic of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis was asked about the apparent lack of transparency when it comes to accusations against bishops, compared with the handling of accusations against priests.<\/p>\n
The pope called for \u201cequal transparency\u201d going forward, adding that \u201cif there is less transparency, it is a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
To a question about Black Catholics, Francis said he is \u201caware of their suffering, that he loves them very much, and that they should resist and not walk away\u201d from the Catholic Church.<\/p>\n
\u201cRacism is an intolerable sin against God,\u201d he added. \u201cThe Church, the pastors and laypeople must continue fighting to eradicate it and for a more just world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked if he has any regrets, or if he would change anything he has done in nearly 10 years as pope, Francis said in English, as he laughed, that he would change \u201call! All!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, I did what the Holy Spirit was telling me I had to do. And when I did not do it, I made a mistake,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
On his seeming constant joyfulness, the pope said he is not \u201calways like that,\u201d except when he is with people.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would not say that I am happy because I am healthy, or because I eat well, or because I sleep well, or because I pray a great deal,\u201d he explained. \u201cI am happy because I feel happy, God makes me happy. I don\u2019t have anything to blame on the Lord, not even when bad things happen to me. Nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the Lord has guided him through both good and difficult moments, \u201cbut there is always the assurance that one does not walk alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne has one\u2019s faults,\u201d he said, \u201calso one\u2019s sins; I go to confession every 15 days \u2014 I do not know, that is just how I am.\u201d<\/p>\n
This article was originally published by EWTN News English.<\/p>\n