Reforms aim to show 'true face of the Church,' says Vatican official

Rome, Italy, Dec 7, 2013 / 16:19 pm

Pope Francis' style and ongoing reforms are intended to encourage Catholics to be more missionary, in order to bring the Gospel to all people, said Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State.

"It's very easy to work with Pope Bergoglio. There is a lot of agreement, and this is great hope for the future," Archbishop Parolin said.

He emphasized the Holy Father's desire for reforms that "show the true face of the Church," Vatican Radio reported.

Archbishop Parolin made his statements during the presentation of the book, "My Door is Always Open," by Father Antonio Spadaro, which includes a more complete version of the conversation the Holy Father had with the director of the Jesuit magazine La Civilta Cattolica.

It is true that Church "structures must be renewed in order that they reflect the Gospel more and more and become even more effective in the concrete exercise of the service they should provide," the archbishop reflected.

However, he continued, it is even more important, "as the Pope is asking us, that we all work towards personal renewal – to use a Christian term, towards continual conversion."

Likewise, Archbishop Parolin reiterated the missionary dimension and style of the Pope.

"I think the hope is that the Gospel can reach all people: this missionary dimension that has also been underscored today, which is fundamental in the words and in the style of Pope Francis," he explained.

"The conference of the Latin American and Caribbean bishops at Aparecida in 2007 underscored precisely this missionary dimension of the Church, the need to go to the peripheries, to reach everyone, to bring the treasure of the joy of the Gospel to all," he said.

"This is also very beautiful and is the dominant tone of Evangelii Gaudium. Thus the Gospel is joy and we are called to bring joy to the word by bringing this Good News."