Part 3

In his first interview as pope, an interview Francis gave to the editors of several international Jesuit publications, Francis was asked about this in coded language that every Jesuit would have recognized as referring to these Rules. He replied that there Rules were non-problematic for him, and by implication for all Ignatians, provided one understands “Church” as defined by V2 in these Rules—that is, as the Holy People of God, clergy and laity. Effectively, therefore, one is invited by Ignatius in our modern world, to bend over backwards to think in harmony with the WHOLE CHURCH, and the episcopal magisterium is only one (very important) component of that whole. That dramatically transforms the meaning of these Rules in our age of complex theological controversy. Effectively, one must not only consider the magisterium, but must also attempt to discern the thrust of the Spirit in the modern Church, and be obedient to that.