Pope Francis says time is greater than space

Published: January 13, 2024

By Father Jerome Kodell, OSB
Subiaco Abbey

In Pope Francis’ first major document, "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel") published Nov. 24, 2013, he laid out four principles which would guide his exercise of the papacy: time is greater than space, unity prevails over conflict, realities are more important than ideas and the whole is greater than the parts. (paragraphs 222-237)

“Time is greater than space” is unfamiliar to us, but the pope signals the importance of this principle among the others by naming it first and by citing it in three other major documents as well — "Lumen Fidei" ("The Light of Faith") in 2013, “Laudato Si’” (“Praise Be to You”) in 2015 and "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love") in 2016.

What does Pope Francis mean by this? He expands on this idea in several ways in his teachings but puts it very simply in "Lumen Fidei" (no. 57): “Space hardens processes, whereas time propels toward the future and encourages us to go forward in hope.”

Space serves many good purposes but is stationary and limited, while time is moving and has expanding possibilities. The pope sees a great danger in simple solutions to complex problems, settling debates before the discussion is over. This helps us understand why he cannot be pulled into coming down too early on one side or the other of a controversial issue, which he considers an exercise of control, stifling a process still working itself out under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The philosophical basis for this approach received its impetus from Pope Francis’ doctoral study in the work of the great European theologian Father Romano Guardini and was further influenced by the Latin American theologians Amelia Podetti and Alberto Methol Ferré.

It calls for patience in the midst of tension, refusing to foreclose prematurely even though tension is uncomfortable. The key is to initiate a valid process of discovery and to trust the process.

This principle, he says in "Evangelii Gaudium," “enables us to work slowly but surely, without being obsessed with immediate results. It helps us patiently to endure difficult and adverse situations or inevitable changes in our plans. It invites us to accept the tension between fullness and limitation, and to give a priority to time.” (no. 223)

The pope has been criticized for not putting an end to debate or questioning with a clear statement or decision. But that would contradict his working principle: “Not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the magisterium. Unity of teaching and practice is certainly necessary in the Church, but this does not preclude various ways of interpreting some aspects of that teaching and drawing certain consequences from it. This will always be the case as the Spirit guides us toward the entire truth.” ("Amoris Laetitia," 3)

This approach clarifies the pope’s intentions in launching on Oct. 10, 2021, the two-year global consultation process for parishes all over the world which culminated in the Synod on Synodality last October.

“It is not so much by organizing events or theorizing about problems, as in taking time to encounter the Lord and one another … that we listen to what the Spirit wants to say to the Church.”

At the Mass inaugurating the process in 2021, Pope Francis built his homily around three verbs — encounter, listen and discern. “Let us not soundproof our hearts,” he said. “Let us not remain barricaded in our certainties. Certainties often close us off. Let us listen to one another.”

Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, writes from Subiaco Abbey. This article was originally published in Arkansas Catholic Jan. 13, 2024. Copyright Diocese of Little Rock. All rights reserved. This article may be copied or redistributed with acknowledgement and permission of the publisher.