O Papa Francisco, as mulheres e homossexuais: uma análise das falas, ações e reações

Abstract

The present study investigates how the statements and actions of pope Francis directed toward women and homosexuals were received dy groups of woman and homosexuals who maintain an ongoing struggle for recognitions, respect, and inclusion with the Roman Catholic Church and society, as well as by scholars who have dedicated themselves to understanding Francis and the contemporary context. It seeks to understand, from their perspective, what these statements and actions provoked within the Church, among families, and in society. The analytical scope focuses on the years of Pope Francis’s pontificate, examining what ca be draw from his statements and actions regarding women and homosexuals. The methodology is grounded in receptions analysis, considering how Pope Francis’s statements and actions were perceived by different individuals and social groups. To this end, official documents of the Catholic Church, academic articles, books, and media materials were used. The analysis aimed to understand how these statements and actions were interpreted and what meanings were derived from them, taking into account symbolic meanings, institutional limits, and social repercussions. In order to reach a satisfactory final analysis, it was necessary it trace a path prior to Francis in order to arrive at his pontificate, gathering information capable of helping to understand the contrasts and continuities observed during his tenure with regard to woman and homosexuals. For this process, the first chapter sought to understand the connection between women and homosexuals, the interrelationship between sex, gender, sexuality, and religion, and the historical relationship, addressed in a focused manner between the Roman Catholic Church, women, and homosexuals. This includes moments from antiquity related to Christianity as a whole, culminating in the main statements and actions of Francis. This approach is justified because those who receive and interpret this statements and actions do so based on the historical experience of women and homosexuals, while also highlighting and helping to explain the ruptures, continuities, and limits encountered. Based on this analysis, the second chapter examines Bergoglio prior to becoming Pope, highlighting aspects of his personal and religious trajectory that relate to his way of viewing and treating women and homosexuals. It also addresses his election as Pope, emphasizing the factors that motivated it, as well as his theology, considering that this theology, along with aspects his life, was reflected in his pontificate. This leads to the third chapter, which analyzes how Pope Francis’s statements and actions directed toward women and homosexuals were received. The results indicate that there was progress on issues involving woman and homosexuals as a result of these statements and actions, which brought advances and greater openness within the Roman Catholic Church toward these two groups. Examples include the appointment of woman to important positions in the Vatican, debates on the female diaconate, an greater understanding of certain issues such as abortion. With regard to homosexuals, greater openness within churches was observed, along with increased acceptance by families, legislations benefiting this group influenced by Francis’s statements and actions, and even Church documents, such as the authorizations of blessings for samesex couples. Despite these advances, limitations were also identified in the way Francis spoke about women, whose portrayal remained tied to the Church’s conservatism. These Were also limits to the openness granted, such as the fact that even when women are appointed to high positions in the Vatican, they remain subordinate to men who can be part of the clergy. Likewise, Strong resistance toward homosexuals persists. This situation is aggravated by the fact that Francis did not make changes to the doctrine or structure of the Roman Catholic Church, meaning that the continuity of the observed advances depends on the stance adopted by future popes. In conclusion, although Francis’s statements and actions broiht significant advances regarding woman and homosexuals, these advances were more symbolic the concrete, which poses risk to their continuity.