The Pope Francis Agenda
Fr. Donal Dorr’s new book, The Pope Francis Agenda: His Teaching on Family, Protection of Life, Justice, Ecology, Women and the Church, was launched at the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education by Dr. Mary McAleese on Thursday 2nd August, 2018 to a full and enthusiastic gathering.
The book highlights the teaching, style and spirituality of Pope Francis. Its author points out the importance for this Pope of preaching the Gospel in a new way with ‘creative faithfulness’, appropriate to a world and a culture that has changed radically. Pope Francis, he says, is in favour of having open and respectful dialogue in the Church. In launching the book, Dr. McAleese saw it as a publication bound ‘to intrigue and excite interest’ especially with the visit of Pope Francis to the World Meeting of Families in Ireland imminent at the end of the month.
For Donal Dorr, some outstanding elements emphasised by Pope Francis are, ‘his new teaching on ecology, his unabashed embrace of key elements of liberation theology, his sharp critique of clericalism, and his sustained efforts to move towards a more decentralised and synodal model of Church governance.’ (p. 11). Dorr has no hesitation, he says, in claiming that Pope Francis has made a major contribution to Catholic social teaching.
Dr. McAleese picked up on many of the issues in the book, speaking passionately about the concerns she would like to see Pope Francis address. She concluded her remarks by acknowledging to her listeners that ‘it was a privilege to read and launch this timely and hope-filled book’, congratulating Fr. Dorr and Veritas on the initiative. The Pope Francis Agenda is already among the bestsellers in Veritas shops this month.