Pope Francis speaks out against gender ideology

Pope Francis and Cardinal Marc Ouellet at the Symposium Image: Vatican Media

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis on Friday spoke out against gender ideology, describing it as an "ugly ideology of our time", because it erases all distinctions between men and women. To cancel this difference "is to erase humanity. Man and woman, instead, exist in a fruitful 'tension'", he said. The remarks came in his opening address to participants in the international Symposium 'Man-Woman: Image of God. Towards an Anthropology of Vocations' - held in the Vatican on 1 - 2 March.

The Congress is organized by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops, together with the Centre for Research and Anthropology of Vocations (CRAV) and is a follow-up to the previous 2022 Symposium dedicated to the theology of the priesthood.

The Pope introduced but then asked his assistant, Mgr Filippo Ciampanelli, to read it out for him, because he still has a cold.

In the text the Pope reflected on the theme of the Congress which is aimed first of all at highlighting the anthropological dimension of every vocation.

"The life of the human being is a vocation" which has a relational character. "I exist and live in relation to who generated me, to the reality that transcends me, to others and to the world around me, in which I am called to embrace a specific and personal mission with joy and responsibility."

"Each one of us discovers and expresses oneself as called, as a person who realizes oneself in listening and response, sharing our being and gifts with others for the common good."

This fundamental anthropological truth is sometimes overlooked in today's cultural context, where human beings tend to be reduced to their mere material and primary needs. Yet, Pope Francis said, they are more than this - created by God in His own image, man and woman "carry within themselves a desire for eternity and happiness that God himself has planted in their hearts and that they are called to fulfil through a specific vocation."

"Our being in the world is not a mere fruit of chance, but we are part of a design of love and are invited to go out of ourselves and realize it, for ourselves and for others," the Pope said.

"We are called to happiness, to the fullness of life, to something great to which God has destined us."

Recalling Saint John Henry Newman's 'Meditations and Prayers' Pope Francis said, not only we have all been entrusted with a mission, but "each and every one of us is a mission."

The Pope therefore welcomed the symposium and the studies conducted on this topic because, he said, "they spread awareness of the vocation to which every human being is called by God", and are also useful to reflect on today's challenges, on the ongoing anthropological crisis, and on the need to promote human and Christian vocations.

He also emphasized the importance of promoting "a more effective circularity" of the different types of vocations in the Church, including lay vocations, ordained ministry and consecrated life, so they "can contribute to generating hope in a world overwhelmed by death."

"Generating this hope, placing oneself at the service of the Kingdom of God to build an open and fraternal world is a mission entrusted to every woman and man of our time," he said.

Closing his address, Pope Francis encouraged the participants in the Symposium not to shy away from risks in seeking God's will in their work, reminding them a living faith is not an artifact in a museum: "The Holy Spirit asks us fidelity, but fidelity moves, and often leads us to take risks," he said.