John Jansen

I've always been a Jansen. But I am not now, nor have I ever been, a Jansenist.

[Eric N. Kniffin @ekniffin]

I have been privileged to call @MontseEWTN a friend for nearly 20 years, dating back to our days working together at @becketfund. Montse is a leader with the heart of a servant who loves Christ and his Church.

Thanks be to God! Pray for her! 🙏
https://t.co/NsRqLAPQZt

[Paulina Guzik @Guzik_Paulina]

Pope Leo appointing a lay woman - young (for a Vatican executive role), intelligent, and shaped in her leadership by communications standards of DC rather than Via Conciliazione - for a prefect of Holy See’s Dicastery of Communications, is a historic move that is going to reshape Vatican communications, and possibly change it forever.

I can’t remember this, as I was one year old, but when Joaquin Navarro-Valls was appointed Director of Sala Stampa in 1984 - the shock must have been similar to the one today when @MontseEWTN was appointed to her role.

What did Navarro-Valls tell the pope on the first lunch for which Wojtyła invited him to to ask how Vatican communications should look like - and after which John Paul knew he wants Navarro as his communications face?

„The Vatican doesn’t need a reform. The Vatican needs a revolution,” Navarro told him, quite honestly and bluntly for a first official meeting - honesty appreciated by the pope throughout the pontificate.

In a world shaped by algorythms, which is so brilliantly highlighted in „Magnifica Humanitas,” that single sentence of „Dr Navarro,” as John Paul used to call him, gains modern significance.

How did Navarro-Valls - a psychatrist by training, who became a face of the Vatican in a pivotal moment of history - made the revolution succeed?

These elements of the change he brought to the Holy See were key - and are crucial for any new communicator of the Vatican to flourish:

1/ direct access to the pope
2/ transparency
3/ not leaving questions unanswered

Dr Navarro was one of the few people who had a key to the papal apartment. Whenever he needed to discuss things, he could have a spontaneous meal with the pope.

When journalists asked him questions, they knew he’s not lying to them, and that what he says, is aligned with what the pope thinks. He was accessible. He was honest. He was smart. When he told journalists that the pope had an accident in the bathroom, Vatican officials were furious he revealed where the accident happened. „Doesn’t the pope use the bathroom?” he asked them.

When Vittorio Messori asked for an interview with the pope for the 15th anniversary of the pontificate for RAI television and John Paul simply did not have time (it needed 3h from his schedule) - Navarro had to tell Messori „no.”
But he also had a surprise - the pope gave him a stack of papers written at night - and signed them: „Crossing the threshold of hope.”
JPII told Navarro that they „can’t leave important questions unanswered” and the answers he gave - in another form, but he still delivered - became the biggest bestseller in the history of modern papacy, and was translated to 40 languages.

History likes to repeat itself, and even if Vatican communications is in a different era than it was in 1984, it still needs a direct access to the pope, in a renewed force, it needs transparency, and not leaving questions unaswered.

Monste was not appointed spokesperson - the role of Navarro - but needs to be a comms strategist in her executive role, like Navarro was as director of Sala Stampa.

Catholic media preferences aside, every Catholic should pray for Maria Montserrat Alvarado to succeed in her new role.

I will.

[Patrick Neve @catholicpat]

"We need less lay involvement in the Vatican"

With all due respect to the Princes of the Church...I once spoke to a Cardinal who didn't know what a podcast was.

Maybe we need a layperson on this one

[Scott Smith @hf_222222]

If helping to lead EWTN News, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty & the Acton Institute aren't blue ribbon US Catholic conservative establishment credentials - Than my word has the Overton Window moved in just a year.

[Menarion @cath_menarion]

This:
1. Throws a bone to conservatives because she's from EWTN
2. Throws a bone to EWTN itself
3. Is hard for liberals to openly criticize because she's a woman
4. Is on firmer theological ground because the DfC doesn't exercise the magisterium or governance
5. Puts someone highly competent in charge of the Vatican's largest Dicastery

Just a really, really savvy move on Pope Leo's part. I'm genuinely impressed

[Jonathan Liedl @JLLiedl]

Abp. Hicks of NYC, Card. Cupich's alleged "protege"--taking to the pages of First Things to speak out on a pro-life issue (is this "culture warring?").

One of many interesting ecclesial tea leaves of the day.
https://t.co/GTVO75rANM

[Sweet Meteor O'Death @smod4real]

Getting all the people in the back pews with my incense trebuchet

[Amy Welborn @amywelborn2]

Everyone's talking about what @Pontifex said about Sheen today, but I'm looking at his sex realism in this talk:

"The Scout method puts the person at the centre, caring for all aspects of their relationships and human richness. Your Association’s pedagogical choice is expressed, in this regard, in educating in separate sections for boys and girls, so as to devote specific attention to each group. Exploring in this way the fundamental characteristics of being a woman and being a man is a preparatory step towards an authentic and conscious encounter with the other, which can foster mutual growth."

[John Jansen @johnjansen]

Friends don't let friends create surveys using Microsoft Forms.

[Catholicism in East Asia @TheChurchInAsia]

In honor of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, here is a catechetical poster featuring the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, intended for a Chinese audience and featuring Chinese aesthetics.

[Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex]

For centuries, the liturgy has been a driving force for evangelization. Today, we need to renew this energy in continuity with the authentic and living Catholic tradition, that is, according to a dynamic aimed at introducing believers to the fullness of truth. #GeneralAudience

[Delia Gallagher @deliavatican]

Pope speaks on liturgy today, quotes JPII & BXVI & Vat II doc SC “That sound tradition may be retained & yet the way remain open to legitimate progress”

Asks priests to “uphold respect for the texts & regulations of liturgy”

full English text👇

[John Jansen @johnjansen]

Always be afraid.

[Catholicism in East Asia @TheChurchInAsia]

Another painting by Chinese artist Bai Huiqun, this one titled "Our Lady with an Angel Amidst the Clouds and Holding the Child". 1948, scroll watercolor on silk.

[Catholicism in East Asia @TheChurchInAsia]

A 1948 Chinese watercolor painting on silk, "Jesus with Martha and Mary". The artist is Bai Huiqun.

[John Jansen @johnjansen]

"Never before in the history of humankind has so radical an experiment in social isolation ever been conducted on such a scale, and the effects on fertility are and will continue to be profound." https://t.co/a2MjOPH56W

[Charlie Camosy @CCamosy]

The Catholic Church at its absolute best.

[Derek Thompson @DKThomp]

This has been a fun debate to follow.

One week ago, I think I was 70-30 on the side of smartphones being over-blamed for the decline of birthrates in the US and around the world. The timing just didn't seem to match up for me, given the long-term decline in fertility rates.

But Lyman, @jburnmurdoch, and @JesusFerna7026 have changed my mind. I think several phenomena related to phones—declining socialization; declining coupling; smartphone-mediated distribution of western values, including feminism—have probably had a global effect on birthrates

[John Jansen @johnjansen]

Excellent article: https://t.co/qUiF9YlCzg

[John Jansen @johnjansen]

@iJmillz The one with the L tracks totally gives off "Blues Brothers" vibes.