Pope Francis calls for change within the Church

Pope Francis called on the Church not to close in on itself during Pentecost Sunday Mass. Speaking before a crowd of 200,000 people, the Holy Father urged the faithful to be open to a new and changing world.

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VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - Pope Francis challenged the Church to examine if it is open to new things or if it is "barricaded in transient structures which have lost their capacity for openness to what is new."

Pope Francis explained that this kind of change can bring fulfillment.

"Newness always makes us a bit fearful, because we feel more secure if we have everything under control," he told the crowd.

Before outsiders read too much into the Holy Father's comments, it should be remembered that Pope Francis is very faithful and considered "conservative" on matters of Church doctrine. He is orthodox in both doctrine and practice. 

Also, this cannot be construed as any indication that the Church is about to weaken its stance on moral issues. It cannot be - because moral truth does not change.

Instead, the invitation of Pope Francis is to return to the mission of Christ, abandoning some of the comfortable ways of the modern Church.

Francis spoke of the need to "take to the streets of the world" and to "reach the very outskirts of existence."

This message suggests the Holy Father is asking us to follow him into the slums, the ghettos, the refugee camps, and prisons of the world, to minister to the people there, who are most in need of Christ's message.

The 76-year-old pontiff has been very fond of visiting the disenfranchised, impoverished, and sick, and setting an example for Catholics and other Christians around the world.

Francis challenged Catholics to take their faith outside of the pews, into the streets, and to display it by behaving charitably.

Francis is legendary for his humility and his belief that voluntarily embraced simplicity and hard work are sometimes the best prescription for a troubled soul because they remind us of what and WHO matter most, Jesus Christ and his Call in our lives to love and live as He did. 

After all, he continues to live His life through us.

On Saturday evening, Pope Francis put things plainly, admonishing Catholics to seek out others to share the Gospel with and help rather than dissecting abstract points of theology.

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