Thursday 14 January 2016, at. 8:59
Updated: Thursday 14 January 2016, at. 11:18

In Rome: Tore Hjalmar Sævik

The Italian theologian Leonardo De Chirico left the Roman Catholic Church as a youth. Pope Francis has not made it more appropriate to return.

An unexpected surge of spring weather has thrown itself over Rome in early January. A spiritual spring break is also underway, many believe and are excited about the fresh conversation book with Pope Francis, "the name of God is mercy." It was launched Tuesday and presented in 'Dagen' Yesterday. Among its enthusiasts is definitely not the vice chairman of the Evangelical Alliance in Italy, Leonardo De Chirico.

- I do not represent the Catholic system, smiles 48-year-old when we meet at the border with Vatican City for photography.

The monumental basilica towers in the sun against the blue winter sky. Priests and pilgrims mingle with ordinary Roma citizens and tourists. Mopeds are simmering| and cars hums through the streets.

Critical to approach
The Evangelical Alliance represents a single percent of Italy barely 60 million inhabitants. And they belong to many different denominations. De Chirico is a Baptist, but was baptized Catholic as a child. He has a PhD on the relationship between the Catholic and Evangelical Protestant understanding of Christianity after the 2nd Vatican Council, which ended in 1965. Today he heads Reform Anda Initiative, which is working to equip leders to understand Catholic theology from a Protestant point.

- Pope Francis does not talk much about 2nd Vatican Council, but putting ideals from there into practice, says De Chirico over cafe table where the Italian breakfast is served.

A primary goal of this council was to open Catholicism against the world in a new way.

Popular Pope
The theologian is not surprised that the Pope has chosen to have mercy in focus when he has proclaimed the third extraordinary Holy Year or jubilee in the Roman Catholic church for over 700 years. One of the characteristics of the current pope, according to De Chirico is to make the church inclusive. He believes Francis is much more concerned with relationships than about doctrine.

- That's why he is so popular, especially in secular circles. The message is that you are welcome as you are, and the key word is grace, says protestant.

He believes mercy is emphasized so strongly that other central aspects of the biblical message - that truth and justice - in practice are subordinate.

- When he is in danger of making compassion into something we worship itself. It becomes a self-referential ideal, says De Chirico, who misses the width of the biblical image of God and the salvation message from Francis.

- People feel that they are validated rather than being moved toward repentance and transformation, he said.

He thinks this is expressed by what he perceives as vague signals from the pope about homosexual relationships.

- He says the important thing is that people follow their conscience, says De Chirico.

Biblical scale
- But some would say that the Roman Catholic church after all has held on doctrine while the Protestant churches have adapted to society?

- A problem is that the Reformation was only partly implemented in the Protestant churches, says De Chirico.

He believes the state church system helped to bind them to power and the people so they did not really become liberated to be churches by biblical standards.

- They sought validation and a foothold in the state, he said.

Forward believes the Italian theologian churches must rediscover the importance of being professed and committed communities in a society where they have no privileges and subsidies.

New unrest
One of his main objections against The Roman Catholic Church is precisely the combination of religious and political power.

- But the Roman Catholic Church has remained collected while Protestant churches are becoming more divided?

- The claims of stability is something I have reacted to decades. I am now being told about people who have converted to Catholicism because they thought it would be stable, wondering what is happening during Pope Francis reign. Catholicism is not as stable as it has appears, says De Chirico.

At the same time he acknowledges that Protestant churches have shown lacking ability to stick together.

- Fractioning is the Protestant cancer, and it is a pity, he said.

Seeking unity
The solution he sees, however, is not to collect increasingly more in common denominations, but to work in networks and alliances to stand together. He is himself active in both the World Evangelical Alliance and the Lausanne movement.

- In practice, the Catholic Church as divided, if not more, than the Protestant churches. The evangelical churches are united in a fundamental understanding of the gospel. The same can not be said about the Catholic Church.

- Do you understand those who feel that they have much in common with you theologically, but still choose to remain in the Roman Catholic Church?

- It is easier the longer you are down in the system. But higher in the hierarchy, I think it is very difficult, says De Chirico.

Source