Bernardin and Bergoglio: What the Cardinal’s Legacy Offers to a Church Led by Pope Francis.

Abstract

As the papacy of Francis unfolds the Church is experiencing a time of rebirth, grounded in our long tradition but with shifting emphases and fresh outlooks. Seminaries and other graduate schools of study may struggle to find frames of reference in which to structure education and formation to fit these shifts. They would do well to revisit the work of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, in particular his Consistent Ethic of Life and Common Ground Initiative, as a way forward during this springtime of renewed interest in the church and its relevance to contemporary issues. The two men seem to be kindred spirits, as well as products of their eras. Bernardin’s work will need updating, but it provides a solid foundation from which to begin the implementation of Francis’s vision for a church at the service of Christ’s mission today.