THE PERIPHERIES AND THE EUCHARIST: POPE FRANCIS, THE TEOLOGÍA DEL PUEBLO, AND THE CONVERSION OF CATHOLIC BIOETHICS

Abstract

Moral theologians in the US have been engaged in an ongoing conversation that attempts to predict what effect — if any — the papacy of Pope Francis will have on the field of Catholic bioethics. The many predictions fail to appreciate the full power of Francis’ deeply sacramental and ecclesial vision. In­formed by Vatican II and the Argentinian teología del pueblo, Pope Francis locates the sacramental work of Christ in two constantly interacting poles — the Eucharist and the peripheries. Via Pope Francis, these poles become recursively interactive twin starting points for the conversion of Catholic bioethics.