The pope who listens: A humble shepherd in a Synodal Church

Since his election on March 13, 2013, Pope Francis has ushered in a new vision of papal leadership — one grounded not in authority from above, but in humility, dialogue, and deep listening. Describing the Church as a “field hospital,” he has constantly reminded the faithful that leadership begins at the feet of others, especially the poor, the voiceless, and the wounded.

“Listening is more than hearing”—A” Church That Walks Together.

One of the most transformative initiatives of Pope Francis’ pontificate is the Synod on Synodality, launched officially on October 9–10, 2021, and concluding in October 2024. With the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission,” the synod represents a global listening exercise where bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople from every continent have come together in prayer, discernment, and consultation.

“Let us listen to one another to discern together what the Spirit is saying to the Church.” - Pope Francis, Homily at the Synod Opening, October 10, 2021

This synod is unprecedented not just in scope — involving more than 112 bishops' conferences, hundreds of dioceses, and millions of faithful — but in spirit: it invites ordinary voices, especially those on the peripheries, into the heart of Church discernment.

In the October 2023 General Assembly, a summary report was released with reflections on co-responsibility, greater inclusion of women in leadership, enhanced youth engagement, and dialogue with Indigenous communities. The document emphasized

“The Church must be a place of listening, not of silencing.” - Pope Francis, October 2023

“Who am I to judge?” - A Revolutionary Whisper

During an in-flight press conference returning from World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, on July 29, 2013, Pope Francis made a remark that became a defining moment in his papacy:

“If someone is gay, is searching for the Lord, and has good will — who am I to judge?”

Though doctrinal teachings remained unchanged, the tone of the Church shifted overnight. The message wasn’t merely tolerance — it was pastoral empathy, rooted in the dignity of each person. His comment, offered not in a formal document but in spontaneous conversation, revealed the heart of a shepherd in tune with the wounds and hopes of his flock.

Washing Feet: A Gospel of Humility

From the very beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has used gestures more than words to communicate leadership. One of his most powerful annual traditions is the Holy Thursday ritual of foot washing, echoing Christ’s humility at the Last Supper.

In March 2013, just weeks after his election, he celebrated Holy Thursday at Casal del Marmo Juvenile Prison in Rome, washing the feet of 12 young inmates, including two young women — a departure from the centuries-old tradition of washing only men’s soles.

In 2016, he washed the feet of Muslim, Hindu, and Christian migrants at a refugee center in Castelnuovo di Porto, north of Rome, declaring:

“We are brothers, children of the same God.” - Holy Thursday Homily, March 24, 2016

These actions were not public relations spectacles — they were Gospel in motion.

“I am a sinner too. Like you, I also need God's mercy to cleanse me. - Holy Thursday Homily, April 17, 2014

The Power of Presence

Throughout his travels, Pope Francis has prioritized personal encounters, especially with those suffering. On July 8, 2013, he visited Lampedusa, Italy, to pray for migrants who drowned crossing the Mediterranean. He threw a wreath into the sea and preached against the "globalization of indifference."

On July 12, 2015, he visited Banado Norte, a poor neighborhood in Asuncion, Paraguay, where he met and embraced elderly women and children in a gesture of solidarity.

“Reality is more important than ideas. And in reality, we walk together.” - Evangelii Gaudium, 2013

Synodality in Action: A Church Reimagined

Synodality is not a political debate, Pope Francis insists, but a spiritual path of discernment. The 2023 Synod Summary Report echoed this.

“The question of women deacons remains open.” - Synod Summary Document, October 28, 2023

He emphasized that disagreement and diversity must not lead to division but to dialogue and discernment under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

In the October 2024 conclusion, the Pope is expected to release an Apostolic Exhortation, outlining the next steps for the global Church.

A Listening Church for a Divided World

In a fractured world plagued by war, migration crises, and moral confusion, Pope Francis continues to emphasize the need for tenderness, presence, and deep listening:

“Let us be a Church that listens, that walks, that loves.” - Address at the Synod Opening, 2021

He reminds leaders, bishops, and faithful alike that only a humble Church can truly accompany humanity:

“The Church is not a customs house; it is the Father’s house, where there is a place for everyone.” - Homily, Jubilee of Mercy, April 3, 2016