On Heaven and Earth brings together a series of dialogues between Jorge Mario Bergoglio and Abraham Skorka, a rabbi and biophysicist. For years both men promoted inter-religious dialogue in their native Argentina, seeking to build bridges between Catholicism, Judaism and the secular world. They scheduled a meeting to talk and share their thoughts, a fruitful event leading to a series of meetings and recorded conversations about the big issues "seen through the prisms of local society, global concerns and the evidence of villainy and nobility that surround us". As a transcript of those conversations the resulting book is organised and edited, certainly, but unpolished to some extent; discursive, not a collection of carefully prepared statements.
Twenty-nine short chapters cover a range of topics. God, the Devil, atheists, same-sex marriage, women, abortion, fundamentalism, euthanasia, divorce, science, the Arab-Israeli conflict — all the neuralgic issues are there. On the face of it Skorka and Bergoglio do not shy away, but the dialogue is tentative, conciliatory even. "Dialogue requires that each participant become acquainted with the other person," writes Rabbi Skorka in a foreword. Each participant in this conversation states their view, that the other might become acquainted with it, but there's little disagreement or vigorous debate. The tone is measured and thoughtful with Bergoglio remaining slightly in the background. What he says is clear, economically and diplomatically expressed, but mutable. On the issue of priestly celibacy, for example, he says, "For the time being, I am in favor of maintaining celibacy" — that "for the time being" leaving a question mark hanging in the air.
For those looking to see where Bergoglio stands on fundamental questions there won't be any surprises. This Pope is definitely Catholic. He clearly articulates Catholic teaching and if he's a little backward in coming forward about where he stands personally it's due to characteristic self-effacement. Those willing to read between the lines can assume Bergoglio's orthodoxy. His emphasis on testing doctrine over time indicates a Pope who won't start making changes to please a secular liberal consensus: "I am respectful of all new spiritual proposals, but they must be authentic and submit themselves to the passage of time." Still, there are those who will be made uneasy by having to make assumptions about orthodoxy.
On Heaven and Earth reveals a Pope who is conservative but open to change, open to dialogue. Dialogue in this case means a respectful attitude towards difference while maintaining an emphasis on where people meet. In Bergoglio's words, "It supposes that we can make room in our heart for their point of view, their opinion and their proposals . . . To dialogue, one must know how to lower defences, to open the doors of one's home and to offer warmth."
