In recent times, some have tried to frame Pope Francis as someone who is against evangelization, but is that true?
A lot can be said about the modern understanding of the term ‘proselytization’ which Pope Francis has condemned. But in short, Pope Francis makes a clear distinction between proselytization (which he condemns) and evangelization (which he approves):
“being missionary, being apostolic, evangelizing, is not the same as proselytizing. They have nothing to do with one another” [1]
However, elsewhere Pope Francis has been quoted as speaking negatively about people “convincing” others. While on other occasions, you get a completely different impression:
“It is impossible to persevere in a fervent evangelization unless we are convinced from personal experience that it is not the same thing to have known Jesus as not to have known him, not the same thing to walk with him as to walk blindly, not the same thing to hear his word as not to know it… This is why we evangelize… Unless we see him present at the heart of our missionary commitment, our enthusiasm soon wanes and we are no longer sure of what it is that we are handing on; we lack vigour and passion. A person who is not convinced, enthusiastic, certain and in love, will convince nobody.” [2]
Pope Francis is telling people that they need to be enthusiastic, certain and in love with Jesus in order for other people to become convinced by the Gospel. Phrased differently, Pope Francis is giving advice as to how we can convince others through our evangelization.
This year, he said that “it is this beauty, communicating this beauty, that will convince people”. [3]
Someone might object and say Pope Francis is contradicting himself, but first consider the following. In Pope Francis’ General Audience of 22 March 2023, he said:
“Dear brothers and sisters, I renew my invitation to you to read and re-read Evangelii nuntiandi. I will tell you the truth, I read it often, because it is Saint Paul VI’s masterpiece, it is the legacy he left to us, to evangelize.” [4]
I urge you to read Evangelii Nuntiandi to understand the full force of Pope Francis’ statement above. Evangelii Nuntiandi is truly a masterpiece on the topic of evangelization. For example, one part says:
“The presentation of the Gospel message is not optional for the Church. It is her duty, by command of the Lord Jesus, so that men may believe and be saved. This message is indeed a necessary one. It is unique and irreplaceable. It allows of neither indifference, syncretism, nor compromise, for it concerns the salvation of mankind” [5]
And another:
“There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed” [6]
The mere fact that Pope Francis invites people to read Evangelii Nuntiandi and professes that he re-reads the “masterpiece” often, makes it utterly implausible for him to be against evangelization and preaching the Gospel.
If someone is still not satisfied, then I urge you to read Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis himself. In it, Pope Francis said the following:
“14. … we cannot forget that evangelization is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him… Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone
…
15. John Paul II asked us to recognize that “there must be no lessening of the impetus to preach the Gospel” to those who are far from Christ, “because this is the first task of the Church”.
…
19. Evangelization takes place in obedience to the missionary mandate of Jesus: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”. In these verses we see how the risen Christ sent his followers to preach the Gospel in every time and place, so that faith in him might spread to every corner of the earth.” [7]
At this point, the question has to be asked: Are we to believe that someone who is so clearly pro-evangelization through and through, whether the year is 2013 or 2023, actually contradicted himself elsewhere? It should make a person stop and think: “Maybe I need to revisit the accusation that he is against evangelization, because the evidence for him being pro-evangelization is overwhelming.”
So how are we to understand Pope Francis being quoted as saying that it is not allowed to “convince” someone of your faith? A close examination of his words on the 11th of January 2023, reveals the harmony:
“Matthew returns to his environment, but he returns there changed and with Jesus. His apostolic zeal does not begin in a new, pure place, an ideal place, far away, but instead he begins there where he lives, with the people he knows. Here is the message for us: we do not have to wait until we are perfect and have come a long way following Jesus to bear witness to him, no. Our proclamation begins today, there where we live. And it does not begin by trying to convince others, not to convince: but by bearing witness every day to the beauty of the Love that has looked upon us and lifted us up. And it is this beauty, communicating this beauty, that will convince people — not communicating ourselves but the Lord himself. We are the ones who proclaim the Lord. We do not proclaim ourselves… No: we proclaim Jesus. We need to put Jesus in contact with the people, without convincing them but allowing the Lord to do the convincing. For as Pope Benedict taught us, “The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by ‘attraction’”” [8]
When Pope Francis speaks negatively about “convincing” others, it is with the modern definition of proselytism in mind (i.e. Promoting the faith through illicit means, impure motives, coercion, pressuring, improper persuasion, making yourself the protagonist, etc.). [9] [10]
This can come in many forms like promising people wealth (the Prosperity Gospel) or food (for the poor) to those who convert. It can even come in the form of a schoolgirl “convincing” or pressuring her friend to become (like) a Christian exteriorly. She is not truly convinced by Jesus. She is not converted at heart. She is following her friend more than she is actually following Jesus! Her friend made herself the protagonist, instead of God.
We are first to deliver a Christian witness, which Pope Paul VI called the “initial act of evangelization” [11], stirring the heart of the unbeliever to ask: “Why does he/she live like this?” The Holy Spirit works in the heart of the unbeliever which prepares them to hear the proclamation of the Gospel. And even when we proclaim the Gospel, the protagonist is God, not us. As Pope Francis said elsewhere:
“In evangelization the protagonist is God, in proselytism it is the I.” [12]
And:
“The proclamation of the Gospel, therefore, is only realized in the power of the Spirit, who precedes the missionaries and prepares hearts: He is “the engine of evangelisation”. We discover this in the Acts of the Apostles, where on every page we see that the protagonist of the proclamation is not Peter, Paul, Stephen, or Philip, but is the Holy Spirit.” [13]
When Peter, Paul, Stephen and Philip proclaimed the Gospel, they were not the protagonists, the Holy Spirit was.
With this in mind, it should be abundantly clear that when Pope Francis speaks negatively about “convincing” others, he means making yourself the protagonist instead of God. This is proselytism. Ultimately, it is not you or I who convinces a person to truly become a Christian. It is God. God is the one who takes the leading role in evangelization.
We deliver a Christian witness and the Holy Spirit does the work in the heart. The Holy Spirit is the engine of evangelization, because He is the one who precedes the missionaries and prepare the hearts. We proclaim Jesus – yes. We preach His Gospel – yes. We evangelize – yes. But God is the protagonist in all of this, and that is what Pope Francis is communicating to us.
Pope Francis is an Evangelist.
For a more detailed look at what Pope Francis has said about evangelization, feel free to watch the video below:
References:
[1] Pope Francis, General Audience on 11 January 2023: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230111-udienza-generale.html
[2] Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 24 November 2013, Paragraph 266: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html
[3] Pope Francis, General Audience on 11 January 2023: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230111-udienza-generale.html
[4] Pope Francis, General Audience on 22 March 2023: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230322-udienza-generale.html
[5] Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi on 8 December 1975, Paragraph #5: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html
[6] Ibid., Paragraph #22
[7] Pope Francis, Evangelli Gaudium, 24 November 2013, Paragraphs 14, 15 & 19: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html
[8] Pope Francis, General Audience on 11 January 2023: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230111-udienza-generale.html
[9] See the CDF’s “Doctrinal note on some aspects of evangelization” from 2007, specifically footnote #49: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20071203_nota-evangelizzazione_en.html#_ftn49
[10] See Bishop Arthur Serratelli’s column in the Cathoic News Agency: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column/53899/pope-francis-proselytism-vs-evangelization
[11] Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi on 8 December 1975, Paragraph #21: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi.html
[12] Pope Francis in an exchange with Jesuits in Mozambique on 5 September 2019: https://www.laciviltacattolica.com/the-sovereignty-of-the-people-of-god-the-pontiff-meets-the-jesuits-of-mozambique-and-madagascar/
[13] Pope Francis, General Audience on 22 February 2023: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230222-udienza-generale.html
Terb Rust converted to Catholicism after being raised Protestant in a Calvinist church in South Africa. He vehemently opposed the Catholic faith, but in his search for the truth he was convicted by the very faith he used to attack. His ardent desire to share the faith with others and helping those seeking the truth, led him to create the YouTube channel Redeemed Catholic.