On the Ministry of America’s Bishops
Eleven years into his pontificate, Francis remains popular among Americans who identify as Catholic. Some 75 percent of self-described Catholics in this country have a positive view of the Holy Father. This shouldn’t be a surprise. His care for the poor and marginalized, his concern for the environment, and his witness to peace have widespread appeal.
But as with all modern leaders, Francis is not without critics. His past comments about “backward-looking” and “reactionary” attitudes in American Catholic life have caused resentment among some faithful Catholics. And his view of Church leadership in the United States – often perceived as negative – has perplexed American bishops who, as a body, have a long record of loyalty and generosity to the Holy See.
A possible pastoral visit to the United States in the Fall, recently reported in a French Catholic newspaper, would be welcomed and could be an opportunity for the Holy Father to see the Catholic Church here in a different light.
On the matter of bishops, I have some experience. A Catholic convert in my college years, I went on to be ordained a priest and served for a decade in Rome as an official in the Vatican’s Congregation (now Dicastery) for Bishops, the office tasked with evaluating and recommending men for the episcopate. The work was largely bureaucratic. It consisted of research, reports, meetings, correspondence, and related staff duties. But it was a thorough education in the strengths and potential problems in the selection process for ministry as a bishop.
