Khaled Anatolios, the John A. O’Brien Professor of Theology and chair of the department, researches the history of Christianity. A particular focus of his work is the engagement between early Christian theological reflection and contemporary theological concerns.
In Catholic ecclesiology, Anatolios noted, the most fundamental task of the pope is to manifest and nurture the unity of the Church.
“From one point of view, one can say that Pope Francis did not attain much success in that regard, putting aside the question of whether that lack of success was due to a fault on his part or the intransigence of some,” he said. “Indeed, while some Catholics have been alarmed at what they perceive to be his wavering on some matters of doctrine, others have also been frustrated at his seeming to fall short of advancing genuine doctrinal change.”
In the longer view, however, Anatolios said, “Pope Francis’ most constructive and enduring legacy will be his efforts to articulate a hermeneutics of mercy that affirms fundamental Church teaching in principle while also striving to interpret and apply this doctrine with pastoral compassion.
“Francis was surely right in believing that such a hermeneutic of mercy is indispensable to the integrity and credibility of the Church’s proclamation of the Gospel,” he said. “Even those who would fault him for what they consider to be misapplications of this hermeneutic should give him credit for his passionate articulation of it.”