JOIN USAs a true Jesuit, he has wisely chosen an educated approach for which that Order was well known.
The Roman Catholic church is all set to undergo a sea change for a more liberal, more inclusive approach in all matters, if one is to judge from the initial performance of the newly elected Jesuit pope, Francis.
Breaking with tradition, he has not only discarded the trappings of his office during Easter week, but he has gone a step further to show his followers the true spirit of Christianity through his actions rather than through sermons. As a first step, he relinquished the traditional pope’s attire of red velvet cape lined with costly ermine for a simpler garment during his first public appearance. He next gave audience to his cardinals standing on the same level instead of on a higher pulpit. And that was not all.
Much to the dismay of conservative traditionalists within and outside the church, their new spiritual leader broke the centuries old custom of washing the feet of male disciples by lovingly performing this holy ritual on two young women, one of whom happened to be muslim. By these significant actions, he has shown the path of tolerance and universal love.
Inspiring inauguration
Pope Francis promises to be a true 21st century religious leader with this inspiring inauguration of his new role as head of the world wide catholic community. This should not come as a surprise. He is a Jesuit priest – the first ever – to be elevated to this high rank. As a true follower of Ignatius of Loyola, founder of that Society, how can he ignore its guiding principle of ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’ which means that even actions considered normally different are still spiritual, if performed sincerely for the ‘greater glory of God?’
So, by discarding tradition right in the beginning of his new role, he has distinctly told the world that he is not going to practice archaic customs. He has simultaneously sent a message to followers of the faith that they should learn to move on with the times, and abandon age old practices that have lost their relevance.
Most importantly, Francis has set a powerful example to his fellow priests to follow doctrines laid down in the scriptures in spirit rather than by letter. Conservatives notwithstanding, the new pope obviously means to reform the church and restore its glory of communion with God without the dictates of custom and habit. As a true Jesuit, he has wisely chosen an educated approach for which that Order was well known. And now, with his fellow Jesuits forming the single, largest religious order of priests working in 112 countries across the world, one can anticipate the improvements he will set in motion, both within and outside the church.
Rituals and traditions are not specific to the catholic church alone. Any institutionalised religion will have its share of customary practices, rites and formal procedures which may continue long after their relevance and significance are lost. It requires a leader of no small stature to change or discard them. The opposition to change is so powerful that many have lost the battle to affect reforms. Some popes in recent times did try to bring in a breath of fresh air into the church. But they did not dare go further than the fringes.
The new pope has shown himself to be a man of courage and conviction. He has set an example to religious leaders of other faiths too. The issues are the same, whether it is Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or any other religion that has been steeped in traditional practices. Their rituals may have no meaning in today’s context. But they are practised more out of the fear of change.
It is not easy to give up the comfort of practising familiar customs and adopting new ones. Traditions are also associated with stability which makes people cling to them. But, religions are seldom static as a professor in Cambridge university reveals in his interesting book ‘Why gods persist.’ According to Robert A Hinde, there will always be different interpretations of religious systems by different people at different times, and this ‘continuing dynamic’ is very necessary.
“Religious systems must be seen as in a dynamic flux, with believers, skeptics, adherents to the traditional order, innovators, rulers and the ruled, all asserting their disparate points of view,” he has said.
If Francis, who is now considered the authority on such matters in his new position as pope, has assumed the role of innovator, it is inevitable that his followers will recognise the need for such change. It will not alter religious beliefs themselves. It will only strip them of unnecessary frills that often distract the mind from the central core of religion, which is to gain peace of mind.