Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ministers
of
Unity
A
Refection
on
Pastoral
Ministry
Through
the
Lens
of
Gaudium
et
Spes
N.S.
Nevilos
unity
of
the
whole
human
race.
As
the
priest
receives
his
powers
of
orders
and
jurisdiction
from
his
bishop,
he
shares
on
this
mission
of
unity.
In
his
own
parish,
a
priest
should
be
a
unifier
bringing
all
people
together
to
God.
Gaudim
et
Spes
(Ch.
4,
sect.
43)
emphasizes
this
role,
it
is
more
than
necessary
than
ever
that
priests,
with
joint
concern
and
energy,
and
under
the
guidance
of
the
bishops
and
the
supreme
pontiff,
erase
every
cause
of
division,
so
that
the
whole
human
race
may
be
les
to
the
unity
of
Gods
family.
How
then
can
a
minister
be
an
instrument
of
unity?
I
cannot
help
but
think
of
any
perfect
example
than
our
very
own
Pope
Francis.
For
even
before
he
stated
this
mission
of
unity,
he
has
already
been
showing
us
how
it
should
be
done.
From
the
moment
he
was
elected
into
the
papacy,
he
rejected
living
in
the
grandiose
papal
apartment
but
opted
a
simple
two-room
suite
in
the
Domus
Santa
Marta.
Through
his
simplicity,
he
united
and
related
himself
with
a
lot
of
people
suffering
in
poverty
all
over
the
world.
Recently
he
revised
the
formerly
tedious
process
of
annulment
making
it
less
complicated
for
separated
or
divorced
couples
to
reunify
back
in
communion
with
the
church.
Currently,
a
synod
on
family
is
taking
place
in
the
Vatican
through
his
initiative.
Some
of
the
sensitive
topics
that
are
said
to
be
discussed
are
issues
concerning
divorced
couples
and
homosexuals.
This
attempt
for
dialogue
should
not
be
viewed,
as
a
devaluation
and
compromise
of
our
Catholic
moral
doctrines
and
principles
as
suggested
by
a
few
parties.
Because,
its
not
and
nor
will
it
ever
be.
Instead
it
should
be
seen
as
the
realization
of
the
role
of
the
church
as
true
ministers
and
shepherds
to
all.
With
his
works
for
mercy,
Pope
Francis
has
created
potential
bridges,
reaching
out
to
people
who
had
long
been
alienated
and
disowned
by
the
judgment
and
contempt
cast
unto
them
by
some
people.
But then, even Pope Francis is just following the lead of what our Lord Jesus
Christ
already
did
2000
years
ago.
Jesus
was
a
true
minister
of
unity.
He
reached
out
showing
love
and
mercy
to
people
who
were
usually
despised,
judged,
and
shunned
away
because
of
their
moral
shortcomings.
Yet
Jesus
did
what
many
people
of
his
time
thought
as
outrageous
as
some
people
may
think
of
Pope
Francis
now.
He
ate
with
tax
collectors
and
sinners.
He
showed
mercy
to
a
prostitute
or
an
adulteress
woman
about
to
be
stoned.
That
love
and
acknowledgement
opened
a
door
for
conversion.
Soon
this
tax
collector
became
a
loyal
apostle
while
the
adulteress
became
a
faithful
disciple.
Almost towards the end of his speech Pope Francis said a beautiful line to
U.S.
bishops
which
is
also
relevant
to
all
ministers
ordained
or
lay,
Harsh
and
divisive
language
does
not
befit
the
tongue
of
a
pastor,
it
has
no
place
in
his
heart;
although
it
may
momentarily
seem
to
win
the
day,
only
the
enduring
allure
of
goodness
and
love
remains
truly
convincing.
In
moments
therefore
of
misunderstanding,
opposition,
and
division,
fighting
fire
with
fire
is
never
the
best
approach.
Unkind
and
imposing
arguments,
instead
of
reconciling,
may
just
widen
the
strife.
Sometimes
it
is
enough
to
simply
meet
the
other
in
an
encounter
and
listen
to
what
they
have
to
say,
learning
their
actual
struggles,
showing
genuine
concern
more
than
passing
quick
judgments.
Hopefully
in
this
encounter,
it
is
Christ
that
one
sees,
opening
a
door
for
conversion,
bringing
peace
in
the
conflict,
and
fostering
unity
in
the
apparent
division.