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| Pope Benedict XVI with Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J. |
Photo courtesy: www.americamagazine.org/
Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini (1927-2012), an Italian Jesuit and once the Archbishop of Milan, was a progressive and liberal in thinking and, as a result, faced opposition from conservatives in the Catholic Church.
In his final interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, before his death on August 31, 2012, he had mentioned about the situation of the Catholic Church clearly: "The church is tired, in the Europe of well-being and in America. Our culture has become old, our churches and our religious houses are big and empty, the bureaucratic apparatus of the church grows, our rites and our dress are pompous. Do these things, however, express what we are today?... Well-being weighs on us. We find ourselves like the rich young man who went away sad when Jesus called him to be his disciple. I know that we can't let everything go easily. At least, however, we can seek people who are free and closest to their neighbor, like Archbishop Romero and the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador. Where are the heroes among us who can inspire us? by no means do we have to limit them by the boundaries of the institution."
About who can help the Church today, he further said: "...I advise the Pope and the bishops to seek out twelve people outside the lines for administrative positions, people who are close to the poorest, who are surrounded by young people, and who try new things. We need to be with people who burn in such a way that the Spirit can spread itself everywhere."
To counter the exhaustion of the Church, this cardinal recommends three options: "...The first is conversion: the church must recognize its errors and follow a radical path of change, beginning with the pope and the bishops. The pedophilia scandals compel us to take up a path of conversion."
"...The second is the Word of God. Vatican II gave the Bible back to Catholics. Only those who perceive this Word in their heart can be part of those who will help achieve renewal of the church, and who will know how to respond to personal questions with the right choice. The Word of God is simple, and seeks out as its companion a heart that listens. ... Neither the clergy nor ecclesiastical law can substitute for the inner life of the human person. All the external rules, the laws, the dogmas, are there to clarify this internal voice and for the discernment of spirits."
"Who are the sacraments for? These are the third tool of healing. The sacraments are not an instrument of discipline, but a help for people in their journey and in the weaknesses of their life. Are we carrying the sacraments to the people who need new strength? I think of all the divorced and remarried couples, to extended families. They need special protection. The church upholds the indissolubility of matrimony. It's a grace when a marriage and a family succeed ..." --(The above translation is used here from the www.ncronline.org article on the last interview of Cardinal Carlo Martini)
Pope Francis, another Jesuit from Argentina, was influenced by Cardinal Martini's writing and progressive ideas to make the Catholic Church step with the changed situation of the modern world instead of dragging its faithful to the past again and again.
For this very reason, Pope Francis also has been facing opposition from the traditionalist and conservative priests, bishops, cardinals, and laypersons from the very first day of his being elected the 266th pope of the Catholic Church.
For details on Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini's life, work, and teaching, please click on the following:
In his final interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, before his death on August 31, 2012, he had mentioned about the situation of the Catholic Church clearly: "The church is tired, in the Europe of well-being and in America. Our culture has become old, our churches and our religious houses are big and empty, the bureaucratic apparatus of the church grows, our rites and our dress are pompous. Do these things, however, express what we are today?... Well-being weighs on us. We find ourselves like the rich young man who went away sad when Jesus called him to be his disciple. I know that we can't let everything go easily. At least, however, we can seek people who are free and closest to their neighbor, like Archbishop Romero and the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador. Where are the heroes among us who can inspire us? by no means do we have to limit them by the boundaries of the institution."
About who can help the Church today, he further said: "...I advise the Pope and the bishops to seek out twelve people outside the lines for administrative positions, people who are close to the poorest, who are surrounded by young people, and who try new things. We need to be with people who burn in such a way that the Spirit can spread itself everywhere."
To counter the exhaustion of the Church, this cardinal recommends three options: "...The first is conversion: the church must recognize its errors and follow a radical path of change, beginning with the pope and the bishops. The pedophilia scandals compel us to take up a path of conversion."
"...The second is the Word of God. Vatican II gave the Bible back to Catholics. Only those who perceive this Word in their heart can be part of those who will help achieve renewal of the church, and who will know how to respond to personal questions with the right choice. The Word of God is simple, and seeks out as its companion a heart that listens. ... Neither the clergy nor ecclesiastical law can substitute for the inner life of the human person. All the external rules, the laws, the dogmas, are there to clarify this internal voice and for the discernment of spirits."
"Who are the sacraments for? These are the third tool of healing. The sacraments are not an instrument of discipline, but a help for people in their journey and in the weaknesses of their life. Are we carrying the sacraments to the people who need new strength? I think of all the divorced and remarried couples, to extended families. They need special protection. The church upholds the indissolubility of matrimony. It's a grace when a marriage and a family succeed ..." --(The above translation is used here from the www.ncronline.org article on the last interview of Cardinal Carlo Martini)
Pope Francis, another Jesuit from Argentina, was influenced by Cardinal Martini's writing and progressive ideas to make the Catholic Church step with the changed situation of the modern world instead of dragging its faithful to the past again and again.
For this very reason, Pope Francis also has been facing opposition from the traditionalist and conservative priests, bishops, cardinals, and laypersons from the very first day of his being elected the 266th pope of the Catholic Church.
For details on Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini's life, work, and teaching, please click on the following:
- Cardinal Carlo Martini, Papal Contender, Dies at 85 (Aug. 31, 2012)
- The Last Interview with Cardinal Martini (From Corriere della Sera, Italy: Sept. 1, 2012)
- Cardinal Martini's last interview (Sept. 1, 2012)
- Translated final interview with Martini (Sept. 4, 2012)
- Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, his final interview, and a damning critique that has rocked the Catholic Church (Sept. 3, 2012)
- 'Out-of-date' Catholic Church must listen to its late Cardinal (Sept. 2, 2012)
- Editorial: In praise of ... Carlo Maria Martini (Sept. 3, 2012)
- [Video] Harvey Cox Extended Interview [with Cardinal Carlo Martini] (Sept. 7, 2012)
- Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., R.I.P (Sept. 19, 2012)
- Martini Pope. The Dream Come True [From Corriere della Sera, Oct. 11, 2012)
- What Cardinal Martini Said, and What He Didn't Say (The late cardinal's controversial interview was less interesting than what some progressive Catholics have tried to make of it) (Sept. 20, 2012)
- [Video] The Legacy of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini: Harvey Cox Extended Interview (March 28, 2013)
- [Video] Pope highlights spiritual paternity of Cardinal Martini one year after his death (Aug. 30, 2013)
- Pope Backs Foundation Promoting Legacy of Cardinal Martini (Aug. 30, 2013)
- Francis hails late Cardinal Carlo Martini (Sept. 2, 2013)
- [Video] Pope Francis praises Cardinal Martini (Oct. 9, 2013)
- Cardinal Martini's dream: the church of Francis (Oct. 23, 2013)
- Cardinal Martini's influence spreads across Canada (May 11, 2015)
- Carlo Maria Martini: A giant of the College of Cardinals (Aug. 26, 2015)
- Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini: an archbishop of the people (Sept. 1, 2017)
- Carlo Maria Martini (Wikipedia)
- The Cardinal Martini Problem for the Church (2019)
- Perseverance in Trials [Free downloadable book] (By Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J.) (Aug. 31, 2012)
- Cardinal Martini's book gives scandal to the faithful, archbishop says (Dec. 2, 2008) [Archbishop Hector Aguer of the LaPlata in Argentina]
- Evidence Pope follows blueprint to change Church by dissident cardinal who led St. Gallen (March 29, 2019)
(Updated on Dec. 18, 2019)
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