Pope Francis Advises Bishops on the Reception of Communion:
Respond as Pastors, Not as Politicians
By John R. Connolly
September 27, 2021
On September 15, 2021, on a flight from Bratislava, Slovakia, to Rome Pope Francis was asked how he would advise bishops to respond to pro-choice Catholic politicians on the issue of the reception of communion. Pope Francis answered the question by urging bishops to act as pastors, not politicians when deliberating on the question of whether or not to give communion to pro-choice Catholic politicians.
In his response the pope stated, “When the church defends a principle in an unpastoral manner, it acts on a political level. And this has always been the case, just look at the history. What must a pastor do? Be a pastor. Be a pastor and don’t go around condemning.” Furthermore, Francis added that as a pastor bishops must respond with God’s style which is one of “closeness, compassion, and tenderness.” This is also the style of Jesus and the Bible. “A pastor who does not know how to act with God’s style is slipping and does many things that are not pastoral.” In his response, Pope Francis repeats part of the statement he made in Evangelii Gaudium that communion is not a prize for the perfect. The full statement reads, “The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of the sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.” (EG, 47). He mentions that it was Jansenism that taught that only those who are perfect can receive communion. Francis says that communion is a gift, a present, the presence of Jesus in the community of the church. In responding to a second question about whether he had ever denied communion to anyone, Pope Francis responded by saying, “No, I have never refused the Eucharist to anyone.”
In his response Pope Francis was extremely strong in his condemnation of abortion. Abortion, Francis states, is homicide. adding that, “Without being ambiguous, whoever has an abortion kills.” Drawing upon the scientific evidence that from the third week after conception all the organs and DNA of human being are present, Francis states that the fetus is a human life that must be respected. He goes on to ask, “is it right to kill a human life to solve a problem?” In even stronger language the pope states that if the church would accept abortion, it would be like accepting daily murder.
Francis admits that his remarks on communion are not addressed specifically to the situation in the United States because he does not know the details of that situation. He states that he is only giving the principle. However, logic might suggest that the principle would apply to all bishops throughout the world. Also, the question raised by Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent, was framed within the context of the situation in the United States. Francis goes to state that he thinks this principle should serve a pastor well. He urges bishops to be more pastoral and move away from non-pastoral condemnations. Pope Francis concludes his remarks with the following statement, “But always this condemnation, condemnation. Enough with excommunications! Please let’s not make more excommunications. The poor people, they are children of God and they want and need our pastoral closeness. Then the pastor resolves things as the Spirit tells him.” (Source: Gerard O’Connell, “Pope Francis: I have never denied Communion to anyone.” America, September 15, 2021).
On September 15, 2021, on a flight from Bratislava, Slovakia, to Rome Pope Francis was asked how he would advise bishops to respond to pro-choice Catholic politicians on the issue of the reception of communion. Pope Francis answered the question by urging bishops to act as pastors, not politicians when deliberating on the question of whether or not to give communion to pro-choice Catholic politicians.
In his response the pope stated, “When the church defends a principle in an unpastoral manner, it acts on a political level. And this has always been the case, just look at the history. What must a pastor do? Be a pastor. Be a pastor and don’t go around condemning.” Furthermore, Francis added that as a pastor bishops must respond with God’s style which is one of “closeness, compassion, and tenderness.” This is also the style of Jesus and the Bible. “A pastor who does not know how to act with God’s style is slipping and does many things that are not pastoral.” In his response, Pope Francis repeats part of the statement he made in Evangelii Gaudium that communion is not a prize for the perfect. The full statement reads, “The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of the sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.” (EG, 47). He mentions that it was Jansenism that taught that only those who are perfect can receive communion. Francis says that communion is a gift, a present, the presence of Jesus in the community of the church. In responding to a second question about whether he had ever denied communion to anyone, Pope Francis responded by saying, “No, I have never refused the Eucharist to anyone.”
In his response Pope Francis was extremely strong in his condemnation of abortion. Abortion, Francis states, is homicide. adding that, “Without being ambiguous, whoever has an abortion kills.” Drawing upon the scientific evidence that from the third week after conception all the organs and DNA of human being are present, Francis states that the fetus is a human life that must be respected. He goes on to ask, “is it right to kill a human life to solve a problem?” In even stronger language the pope states that if the church would accept abortion, it would be like accepting daily murder.
Francis admits that his remarks on communion are not addressed specifically to the situation in the United States because he does not know the details of that situation. He states that he is only giving the principle. However, logic might suggest that the principle would apply to all bishops throughout the world. Also, the question raised by Gerard O’Connell, America’s Vatican correspondent, was framed within the context of the situation in the United States. Francis goes to state that he thinks this principle should serve a pastor well. He urges bishops to be more pastoral and move away from non-pastoral condemnations. Pope Francis concludes his remarks with the following statement, “But always this condemnation, condemnation. Enough with excommunications! Please let’s not make more excommunications. The poor people, they are children of God and they want and need our pastoral closeness. Then the pastor resolves things as the Spirit tells him.” (Source: Gerard O’Connell, “Pope Francis: I have never denied Communion to anyone.” America, September 15, 2021).