Personalities about Francis’ pontificate. What was the greatest contribution of Pope Francis, and what did he surprise the most?

1. What do you consider to be the most significant contribution of the pontificate of Pope Francis?

2. What surprised you the most?

Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, former leader of the confessors in the Basilica of St. Peter, Lucian Bogucki, leader of the River of Life community and lay missionary, Bohumír Živčák, Spiš diocesan bishop František Trstenský, Redemptorist Michal Zamkovský, and sister of Herman.

Archbishop Bernard Bober. Photo: Attitude

Archbishop Bernard Bober, Archbishop of Košice and Chairman of KBS

1. I respect Pope Francis for his humility and the deep dimension of humanity, which makes him the Pope of closeness and meeting in the eyes of many, not only Catholics. Although painful war conflicts marked his pontificate, he never lost the courage to promote a just and sustainable peace. He is a man of hope who encourages brotherhood and reconciliation not only with words, but with the whole being. For me, he is an example of a bishop who opens the church’s doors wide to all who desire to draw closer.

2. The Pope developed, for example, ecological topics, which were previously more external. He also dared to appeal to pastoral work with couples in irregular situations, but had to contend with a wave of criticism. I think he did so because he placed the man of the 21st century, his fragility and beauty at the same time, in the center of his pontificate.

The Pope’s desire to be understandable and authentic in announcing the good news has, in my opinion, found a great response. I wish we would not stop in our determination to be a listening, outgoing and missionary church.

Lucian Bogucki. Photo: Attitude

Lucian Bogucki, Minority, Former Superior of the Confessors at St. Peter’s Basilica. Petra

1. For me, Francis is the Pope who escorted the church to the peripheries in the broadest sense of the word. Whether the peripheries are social, political, economic, or religious. In the center, some are gifted, bright, supported by others, or simply those on whom fate smiled. And conversely, there are many more people on the periphery for various reasons, often not at fault. František notices them and wants others to see them as well.

Pope Francis began his apostolic journeys in countries where Catholics are in the minority. There is always someone from the Vatican service staff in his entourage. He escorted the liturgy of Holy Thursday from under the basilica to prisons and social facilities. He invites the homeless to the birthday table instead of the cardinals. During the COVID pandemic, he also thought of transsexuals from Torvaianica who found themselves in need.

For those who found themselves in trouble of conscience, he appointed missionaries of mercy and extended permission to absolve abortion from sin to all priests. He takes children to the papa mobile during general audiences to make them happy. There are many more such examples. For me, Francis is a pope with a human face who has made Peter’s office more accessible to people.

2. In March 2014, during the celebration of the Liturgy of Reconciliation in the Basilica of St. Peter, on the occasion of the 24 Hours for Lent initiative for the Lord, we knew that Pope Francis would hear confessions in one of our confessionals. How great was the surprise to the master of ceremonies, photographers, and to us Vatican confessors when the Pope knelt before one of us and asked for a holy confession before sitting in the confessional.

I don’t know if the modern history of the Church knows such an image, when the bishop of Rome publicly kneels before a priest and confesses his sins. The roommate who admitted to the Pope asked the Vatican photographic service for a photo. They refused to give it to him, saying they didn’t have permission to share it. Shortly thereafter, with the Pope’s consent, the photo appeared in all newspapers.

In my memory, Pope Francis will be remembered as the Pope of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Everything he said about this sacrament should become a guide for contemporary confessors and penitents. At the beginning of his pontificate, when the Pope had more strength, he used every opportunity to administer this sacrament personally. His wish is that the Jubilee Year 2025 will become an opportunity to rediscover holy confession.

Bohumír Živčák. Photo: 

Bohumír Živčák, leader of the River of Life community and lay missionary

1. I see the pontificate of Pope Francis as the continuity of the popes after the Second Vatican Council. Academic, intellectual style of communication, Vol. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. He was able to translate it into the practical language of the people.

He was uncompromising in his poverty, simplicity, and closeness to people. In my opinion, the most significant contribution is clearly in developing dialogue within the church and with the world, right to the very edge. The level of opposition he was able to bear exceeded all ideas. He waged a decisive struggle with formality and corruption in the church. Sodality stirred up stagnant waters.

2. A surprise, though not a complete one, might be that despite predictions of complete untying of rules in the church, it stands firmly on tradition. So those who expected dramatic changes in direction may be disappointed.

Bishop František Trstenský. Photo: Attitude

František Trstenský, diocesan bishop of Spiš

1. Patient reminder of three principles: Live faith in the community of brothers and sisters – so-called the principle of sodality. To be open in communication with everyone, the so-called principle „todos“ – „all“ are invited. The evangelical principle of a narrow gate and a narrow path, i.e., not to resort to cheap or violent persuasion of others, but to authentically bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus with one’s own life.

2. He was 77 years old when he was elected Pope. That’s why I was surprised by his enthusiasm and tirelessness. Despite his age, he made many apostolic journeys, choosing often pastoral and socially demanding countries. Furthermore, it is a significant reorganization of the Roman Curia. Many spiritual activities appealed to me in particular, for example, the Year of Mercy, the Year Dedicated to St. Joseph, a wonderful encyclical on respect for Jesus’ Divine Heart, Grandparents’ and Seniors’ Day, and Sunday of God’s Word.

Sister Herman. Photo: Attitude

Hermana Matláková, Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy St. Vincenta – satmárky, pedagogue and collaborator of the World of Christianity

The pontificate of Pope Francis is unique in many ways – the first ecological encyclical and the first appointment of a woman to a disaster relief role. However, on the other hand, these are not surprising things. Still, they are a natural outcome of the steps that his predecessors took.

For me, it is a continuation of the line established by John XXIII through the convening of the Second Vatican Council. Francis focuses more on the approach to people and individuals. He does not take humanity as a whole, but looks at every drop in the whole. In this, his view is unique and often surprising when he highlights the particularities and given characteristics of each person.

Michal Zamkovský. Photo: Attitude

Michal Zamkovský, Redemptorist and missionary

1. I still remember the shock and pleasant surprise when Cardinal Karol Wojtyła of Kraków was elected Pope in 1978. It was a promise of great hope for Christians living in communist countries. And today I know that he did not disappoint. 

Pope Benedict XVI, with his profound theology, anchored my faith more and, I think, the faith of the whole church in Jesus Christ. And a surprise from 2013 – Pope Francis, who leads the church and the world to ever-new surprises precisely because he is open to the blowing of the Holy Spirit.

He often reminds us that the Holy Spirit is a God of surprises and invites us to expect them. As the newly elected Pope, he surprised the world by choosing the name Francis and thus also by drawing attention to the poor and the protection of creation.

Perceptive to the blowing of the Spirit, Pope Francis constantly calls on the Church to go out to the peripheries to the lost sheep and offer mercy without borders. The Church, as a field hospital, should be close to people and offer the compassion and tenderness of God himself.

I have to admit that the service of the missionary of mercy, to which Pope Francis invited me and still inspires me, really helps me in this. I learn from him that the mercy of God is announced in every intercession I make. From him, I took the way of preaching in three points, where there should be thought, image, and feeling.

Pope Francis cares that our hearts warm at the heart of Jesus, because otherwise our proclamation and service are dry and ineffective.

2. For me, the Pope’s visit to Slovakia in 2021 and how he accurately described our situation was a big surprise. His urgent invitation to be open to the influence of the Holy Spirit and thus to step forward to new challenges was also a surprise.

For me, Pope Francis is a great prophet of this time and a man of great hope. But I know that the Holy Spirit governs the church, and he can always surprise us.