Polarization and globalization of Catholicism : understanding the pontificate of Francis

Abstract

The crisis of globalization has also affected the globalization of Catholicism, and internal polarization within the Church has become evident. Intra-ecclesial polarization is an important issue because the problem of divisions in the Church has taken on a new form, not only in terms of visibility due to the radical democratisation made possible by social media and new Catholic media independent of functional and institutional dependence on ecclesiastical hierarchies, but also in nature. It is found both among the clergy (up to the level of bishops and cardinals) and among the laity; among practicing and believing Catholics, as well as among Catholics for whom a certain type of positioning and religious identity is an integral part of their profession or vocation/ministry in the Church (politicians, journalists, intellectuals, teachers, lay ministers with local or national public recognition). This is a polarization that originates from the search for a particular and idiosyncratic profile, in opposition to other profiles, including that of the average Catholic, and that originates from different factors. The following is only a provisional and incomplete list. [extract]