Ecclesiological Themes in the Teaching of Pope Francis

This article is an exploration of and theological reflection on the teaching of Pope Francis about the nature and mission of the church, as expounded in his encyclical Evangelii Gaudium and in the talks and presentations he has given in a number of venues. The author identifies three salient themes in Francis’ thought about the church: (1) the church as communion, (2) a church in solidarity, and (3) a servant church. The author relates Francis’ statements about the church as communion to the ecclesiology of Vatican II, especially as articulated in Lumen Gentium . The article expounds the pope’s emphasis on the need for the church to be in solidarity with the poor and other suffering people in the world, connecting it with statements made by Pope Benedict XVI at the 2007 CELAM gathering at Aparecida. Finally, the author reflects upon Francis’ summons to Christians to embody a spirit of service in their mission to the wider world and in their approach to ministry within the church. The author concludes by acknowledging that Francis’ ecclesiology will undoubtedly continue to develop, but he suggests that these three themes will remain central to the pope’s vision of the church in the modern world.