We Are Church Intl.

We mourn the death of 

Pope Francis

17.12.1936 - 21.4.2025

"Sisters, brothers, in the wonder of the Easter faith, carrying in our hearts every expectation of peace and liberation, we can say: with You, O Lord, everything is new. With you, everything begins again."  

Pope Francis, 20 April 2025 

Tributes

But he would want us to look to the future

The Conclave begins on Wednesday, 7 May 2025

Quotes from the Presentations

But, there is still a lot for the next Pope to do. There is no going back. That would be walking out on the Spirit. Abhorring violent words and actions, he will be the voice of those who have no voice, and when necessary, be a disruptive voice who stubbornly insists on the way of justice, compassion and peace. This is particularly important for us in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand where the legacy of colonialism continues to cast a dark shadow. Our indigenous people are still not respected.   Kevin Liston (Australia) 

I dream of a church without clericalism – Pope Francis said. What does clericalism mean? It means that ordained men feel superior and are treated accordingly. And they have the sole say in impotant decisions in our church, and are not held accountable. Church leadership and ministry must not be left to ordained men alone. Governance and decision making should be separated from ordination. The church needs to be democratised with greater involvement of the people of God in all areas of church governance.        Martha Heizer (Austria)

In Brazil and in different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Pope Francis is always very committed to the realities of the people. Supporting social movements mainly on the themes of Land, Work and Housing. Sensitive to people and families of sexual diversity, recognizing the importance of traditional indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. May our base ecclesial communities be recognized as a new way of being Church. May it recognize that unity is the expression of love in the face of diversity of ministries, charisms, genders, sexualities, and cultures.  
Edson Silva (Brazil)

“We Are Church International” calls on the cardinals, to take the signs of the times seriously. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we hope, the cardinals will elect a successor who will continue and intensify Pope Francis' course of reform with courage and vigour.    
Christian Weisner (Germany)

I pray that Pope Francis’ successor will promote unity in diversity and not unity in uniformity!      Colm Holmes (Ireland)

Sr Simona Brambilla, was appointed Prefect of a Vatican dicastery by Pope Francis. She is said to have received an invitation to the conclave “by mistake”. Why was that a mistake? As a Prefect it was her right to be at the conclave.  Virginia Saldanha (India)

There is no greater example of the unfinished work of the Synod on Synodality than an all male conclave. Ordained men are getting behind closed doors to make a consequenbtial decision about the future of the church. This is a textbook definition of the “Old Boys Club” Kate McElwee (USA)

We would like the Synodal process to continue. That the voices of all to be intentionally heard: The youth; women; people with disabilities; LGBTI people, migrants. That it really translates into reality. They are now looking at the participation of the laity in elections of bishops which will begin to pave the way up to the conclave.              Nontando Hadebe (South Africa)

About 3 years ago the German Synodal Way made a number of formal recommendations, one of which has often been overlooked. Let me quote it: The discussionon a church constitutionand on its norms which would be fundamental for a legal system of the entire church must be rekindled and brought to a positive conclusion. End of quote. Coincidentally, a few months earlier here at the Wijngaards Institute for Catholic Research we had recently released just such a proposed constitution.Luca Badini Confalonieri (UK)

Some Responses to the Presentations and Other Information

Church reformers demand women in the conclave Synodality, women's rights, and addressing abuse are the highlights. 
The next pope should not only maintain Francis's course, but also strengthen it. 
The reform group "We Are Church" sets numerous demands.
Webinar: 
Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: 
Women Participation in Leadership and Governance in a Synodal Church
Who will roll away the stone of Patriarchy from our Church tomb?

Latin American Lay Network

Lay Leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean, about 70 virtually, worked in groups to reflect on Francis' papacy and present our concerns and needs for the next papacy to our Cardinals who will take part in the forthcoming Conclave.

Edson Silva participated as the representative of We Are Church (San Paulo/Brazil)

To Cardinals - Portuguese To Cardinals - Spanish To Cardinals - English

Comment

The Church needs a pope who will courageously continue the course of reform - 27 April 2025

We present some pictures of the We Are Church team in Rome in 2013 
both on duty and relaxing with each other.

2005

Awaiting the new Pope:
Prospects and Challenges of the Catholic Church

In 2005 We Are Church were present in Rome during the Conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Sr Joan Chittester OSB (USA), Paul Collins PhD (Australia) and Prof. Adriana Valerio (Italy) spoke at three press briefings. 

Sr Joan Chittester OSB Dr Paul Collins Prof Adriana Valerio

Documents and Articles
reflecting on concerns and needs regarding a future Papacy. 

Bilan d'un Pontificat - François Houtart
  Balance de un pontificado - François Houtart
  El Papado del nuevo milenio - Juan GARCÍA PÉREZ S.J.  ("The papacy of the new millennium")
  La posibilidad del Papa hereje - Rufino VELASCO  (the possibility of a heretical pope)
  Obispos para el siglo XXI - Ignacio González Faus (bishops for the XXIth century, with a section on the bishop of Rome):
Eucaristia: Comunãho e não ato de Exclusão. Perguntas de um Monge ao Papa - Marcelo BARROS (Letter of a religious man to the pope on the Eucharist, Portuguese version)
Eucaristía: Comunión y no acto de exclusión. Preguntas de un monje al Papa - Marcelo BARROS
Jean-Paul II n'a pas reconnu les signes des temps et il a conduit l'Eglise catholique à la crise - Hans Küng

1998

A Pope for the
Time to Come: 
Bishop of Rome
and Universal Pastor

For the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's election at the head of the Roman Catholic faith community, over 140 Catholic groups in 27 countries issued a statement entitled A Pope for the Time to Come: Bishop of Rome and Universal Pastor. They challenged their faith community by calling for a model of church built on a "discipleship of equals" and a style of leadership that is collaborative, dialogic and open to fundamental change.  The quest for structural and democratic reform of the Roman Catholic Church was no longer limited to Europe and North America. Networks were being built among similar movements all over the world. 

Pope for the Time to Come

English German Spanish 147 Endorsers from 6 Continents  Letter to the Pope 14 September 1998 Letter to the Cardinals 14 September 1998 Cardinals respond Letter to the Cardinals five years later