Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism Evangelii Gaudium and the Papal Agenda

Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism is the first and most in-depth study of the most important teaching document from Pope Francis to date: Evangelii Gaudium. It explores the key components of his vision and agenda for the church - ecclesiological, social and dialogical - drawing together a range of globally and disciplinary diverse voices from leading experts in the field. Contributions explore Francis' distinctive style of papacy as well as the substance of his ecclesial revolution and reforms. Chapters engage with the most pressing challenges for the church in today's world and Francis' debt to key influences from John XXIII and Vatican II to Liberation Theology. The global context and contributions to the dialogue of this papacy are assessed and discussed in-depth. The scope of the book will appeal to those interested in the Catholic Church in both contemporary and historical contexts and to those seeking to understand where the church is going today.

1. Pope Francis' agenda for the Church - Evangelii Gaudium as papal manifesto Gerard Mannion; Part I. A New Vision for the Church? Evangelii Gaudium and Pope Francis' Ecclesiology: 2. Pope Francis' new vision for the Church as expressed in Evangelii Gaudium Dennis Doyle; 3. Evangelii Gaudium as an act of reception of Vatican II Massimo Faggioli; 4. 'The Lord, your God, is in your Midst' (EG 4): Evangelii Gaudium - Francis' call for a kenotic theology Judith Gruber; 5. An ecclesial renewal which cannot be deferred. Ecclesial renewal and the renewal of ecclesial structures Sandra Mazzolini; 6. Francis' ecclesiological revolution: a new way of being Church, a new way of being Pope Gerard Mannion; Part II. A Church of and for the Poor: The Social Vision of Evangelii Gaudium: 7. The social vision of The Joy of the Gospel: four questions William Werpehowski; 8. Taking on the 'smell of the sheep': racial justice in the missionary key of Evangelii Gaudium Maureen O'Connell; 9. A church of and for the poor: the social vision of Evangelii Gaudium through the eyes of a scholar-practitioner Maryanne Loughry; 10. Evangelizing in an economy of death Mary Doak; Part III. Church and World in the 21st Century: The Dialogical Vision of Evangelii Gaudium: 11. The global vision of Evangelii Gaudium: cultural diversity as a road to peace Drew Christiansen; 12. The dialogue of fraternity: Evangelii Gaudium and the renewal of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue John Borelli.

Gerard Mannion holds the Joseph and Winifred Amaturo Chair in Catholic Studies at Georgetown University, Washington DC, where he is also a Senior Research Fellow of the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. To date, he has authored, co-authored and edited nineteen books and numerous writings elsewhere in the fields of ecclesiology, ethics, social justice, ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, as well as in other aspects of systematic theology and philosophy. In 2013 he was elected to membership of the American Theological Society.