CLERICALISM, JURIDICISM, AND TRIUMPHALISM -
CONTEXT AND THINKING
Although these three terms are rarely mentioned together, they frequently arise independently and subtly influence the faith of Christians. Discussing them is challenging and often leads to misunderstandings. Therefore, this piece, presented in a fragmentary form, aims to offer a brief perspective on their context and to share personal reflections on these phenomena through the lens of magisterial teaching and practical experience.
Part I
CLERICALISM
1. From the Synod's Conference context:
On October 25th, 2023, Pope Francis addressed the 18th General Congregation of the Synod Assembly, drawing special attention to the issue of clericalism (a), which he noted strongly affects all attendees even before the official sessions begin. He recalled the image of the People of God as encompassing both saints and sinners, with the Beatitudes and Matthew 25 serving as sources of inspiration for his reflections. According to Pope Francis, the People of God "have a soul" and "are conscious of their dignity." He further emphasized that leadership in the Church is fundamentally different from secular leadership: "Jesus did not choose any political models of his time for his Church," and Church leaders are not a "closed corporation." Notably, Pope Francis highlighted that "the members of the Hierarchy come from this people, and we have received the faith from this people, generally from our mothers and grandmothers."
Nevertheless, Pope Francis highlighted many negative situations, such as when "ministers go too far in their service and mistreat the people of God, they disfigure the face of the Church with machismo and dictatorial attitudes." He specifically condemned practices like having "a price list" for sacramental services in some parish offices, comparing it to a supermarket, and warned against turning the Church into a "supermarket of salvation," with priests acting as mere employees of a multinational company. Concluding his remarks, Pope Francis declared: "Clericalism is a scourge, it is a blow. It is a form of worldliness that defiles and damages the face of the Lord’s bride; it enslaves the holy, faithful people of God."
2. From the historical context:
"Clerical" is a term that originated in the Middle Ages, used to describe anything "relating to clerics and the clergy." In the 20th century, it was often understood to refer to clerical men or laypeople who, with varying degrees of success, defended the rights of the Church, particularly those of the pope as a temporal sovereign (b). As recognition of the Catholic Church’s temporal sovereignty and the authority of popes, bishops, and priests grew, the term "clericalism" emerged in 1865 among Italians who opposed these authorities. By 1883, English journalists had adopted the word, and within a few decades, "clericalism" came to signify "any excessive intervention of religion in public affairs, or any attempt by religion to dominate the state."
Several historical events marked the rise of anti-clerical movements. The phrase "Le cléricalisme, voilà l’ennemi!" ("Clericalism, there is the enemy!") became famous through Léon Gambetta, a French lawyer and Republican politician, in 1877. During this period, defiance of clerical authority was widespread. Some countries used these movements to achieve national unification, while others sought to separate the Church from the state. The focus here is less on Gambetta’s specific speech and more on the broader context of negative attitudes that fueled anti-clericalism—Gambetta’s statement being a clear expression of these sentiments.
Politically, Napoleon III (1808 - 1873) had attempted to establish the federal countries among Austria, Italy, and France against Prussia (c). At the same time, the Vatican Council on 1869 defined the Infallibility which generated a strong wave of opposition embodied in the "culture struggle" (Kulturkampf) 1871-1887 of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck to govern the Roman Catholic church under state controls, the May Laws of Adalbert Falk which strictly subjected religious training and even over ecclesiastical appointments.(d)
Religiously, the relationship between Catholics and Protestants in France was a fragile one, profoundly shaped by the Edict of Nantes, enacted by King Henry IV in 1598. This edict granted Protestants the freedom of public worship in certain areas and provided them with full civil rights, including access to education and the legal system (the Chambre de l’Édit court settled disputes arising from the edict between Catholics and Protestants)(e). However, religious tensions persisted and were strongly voiced by both Catholic priests and Protestant pastors. Ultimately, the Edict of Nantes was revoked in 1685, but its influence—and the tensions it sought to address—had a lasting impact on French society.
3. From personal thinking:
Clericalism, whether acknowledged or not, has persisted throughout human history. Reflecting on history is not simply about criticizing the past, but about understanding its relevance to the present and future, where clericalism continues to manifest in various forms. As Pope Francis explained, "When ministers go too far in their service and mistreat the people of God, they disfigure the face of the Church with machismo and dictatorial attitudes." As a result, the Church faces the ongoing challenge of laypeople being hurt by the actions of some pastors.
We might ask why Pope Francis began the Synod Assembly with such a pointed statement about clericalism in the Church, or consider whether we ourselves recognize clericalism in daily life, even without the outcry of the “lambs.” To fully grasp the significance of the Pope's address, it is necessary to understand the ecumenical aims of the Second Vatican Council.
1. "I like to think about the Church as the faithful people of God, saints and sinners." This view is not unique to Pope Francis, but is rooted in the Church’s teaching as expressed in Lumen Gentium (LG)(f), chapter II, which discusses the People of God. Both LG and Pope Francis emphasize the inclusive role of all members within the Church: "All men are called to belong to the new people of God. Wherefore this people, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and must exist in all ages, so that the decree of God's will may be fulfilled" (LG, no.13).
2. The role of ordained ministry is fundamentally one of service. Pope Francis emphasizes this by remarking, "How naturally we speak of the princes of the Church, or of episcopal promotions as getting ahead career-wise!" Some may be surprised when the Pope addresses the phenomenon of viewing ordination as a career that can bring personal or familial benefits. However, this is a reminder echoed in Lumen Gentium: "Bishops, therefore, with their helpers, the priests and deacons, have taken up the service of the community" (LG, no.20).
3. Laypeople—"for in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (LG, no. 7)—are not servants of pastors, but participants in various degrees of the Church’s ministry, since they are "sharers in the priestly, prophetical, and kingly functions of Christ" (LG, no.31). While priests, as ministerial priests, are tasked with teaching and guiding the laity, laypeople should remain aware that their responsibilities involve active participation, not passive submission as "slaves" of the Church hierarchy.
Little Stream
Photos: Moon
Toronto, 31-01-2026
(a) Francis. “Clericalism Defiles the Face of the Church.” L’Osservatore Romano, October 25, 2023. https://www.osservatoreromano.va/en/news/2023-10/ing-043/clericalism-defiles-the-face-of-the-church.html.
(b) New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2003, 802.
(c) George Huntston Williams, “Reviewed Work(s): The Papacy and European Diplomacy: 1869–1878 by Lillian Parker Wallace,” Church History 17, no. 4 (December 1948): 350–352.
(d) “Kulturkampf.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Kulturkampf.
(e) “Edict of Nantes.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Edict-of-Nantes.
(f) Vatican Council II. Lumen Gentium. November 21, 1964. https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html.
