What has Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis’ text on the family, changed in the Church?

What is the great novelty of this text?

Amoris Laetitia is a text both anchored in the tradition of the Church and very innovative. It conveys a vision of the human being in growth: Pope Francis very often speaks of “process”. Everyone has this mission to grow in love. The role of the Church is to accompany it. To do this, we must start from the reality experienced by people in their families, their fragilities and their joys, by looking at what is beautiful before judging what is wrong.

Another great strength of this text is its concern to sweep across society: from pregnancy to old age, from preparation for marriage to celibacy and widowhood, from the experience of separation to questions of gender and sexual orientation. The first time I read it, I felt like I was listening to a grandfather talk about his family. Amoris Laetitia is full of very wise remarks on many situations that we can experience in our families.

What was the impact of this text in the Church?

Amoris Laetitia invited the Church to place itself at the level of families and individuals in order to be able to accompany them on their journey of life and faith. It is an uncomfortable posture that requires entering into a form of solidarity with people whose life situation may be far from the “standards” of the Church. They have set out in faith, they have the desire to respond to God’s call, to find their place in the Church: our role is to accompany them so that everyone feels part of the body of Christ. This text is driven by the conviction that everyone has their place in the Church.

Amoris Laetitia pushed us to choose reception. I think of homosexual people. We work more with associations of Christian homosexual people. The feedback we have received indicates a better reception than before. People dare to address the Church. A woman in a relationship with another woman recently wrote to the family ministry: “I need the wisdom of the Church to live my relationship as best as possible…” This is very impressive!

Are there any initiatives that have arisen from this text?

Since this exhortation, we have put in place means to support divorced people who wish it. In the diocese of Lyon, there is a course aptly named “Amoris Laetitia” whose aim is to help participants reread their story: how did my marriage go? The decision to get married? How did I end up with the separation? What is my relationship like with my former partner, with our children? The participants also wonder about their relationship with the Church, this institution which does not allow me to marry again within it, which prohibits me from taking communion if I have founded a new couple…

Another fruit of Amoris Laetitia is the awareness of the complexity of the issues for today’s families. How can we help families live well or better experience this joy of love in which the Church believes? In parishes, groups or courses are created for parents. Our diocese also has three family centers, structures open to all offering the services of professional support in matters of couples, education and parenting. We try to offer meetings based on people’s life situations: widowed people, single people, young parents.

There are more and more catechumens in the Church: does Amoris Laetitia concern them?

Amoris Laetitia does not speak directly of catechumens but, with them, the Church finds itself even more immersed in the realities of the lives of families today. Catechumens sometimes have complicated family histories or find themselves in complex life situations. But perhaps the most important thing is that they live this believing that God is working their lives, believing in the power of his grace and mercy. They believe in the joy of loving. And this faith is perhaps the most important message of Amoris Laetitia.

And you, has this text had an impact on your faith?

My parents suffered a lot from a “forbidden license” Church. Amoris Laetitia, with her vision of a Church which welcomes, which understands, which accompanies, has renewed my love for her. Since 2018, I have been in the pastoral care of families in the diocese of Lyon: this text is the basis of our work, it remains our main reference point. We have not finished drawing conclusions from Amoris Laetitia. A beautiful journey has been made by many but we always need to be renewed by the look of mercy that this text poses on people’s life situations.