Reforms in which direction?

To some, the Catholic Church and its doctrines may no longer seem contemporary due to societal changes and new norms. And yet there are many people who still want to live according to the old teachings. That's okay and can remain so.

When someone builds a house, they build it according to their own wishes, ideas, and needs, not according to the preferences of their neighbours.

There are those who find it good and those who criticise it.

If the Church wants to make adjustments, it will enter into dialogue on its own. There's no need for society to dictate to a Catholic Church what is up to date and what isn't - what it should now believe and reform and what it shouldn't.

As an atheist, I nevertheless believe that all religions have a moral responsibility to ensure that the state of the world does not deteriorate, and better yet, that it improves. In other words, ensuring that fewer people suffer, particularly by reducing poverty, or preserving our common home that is our planet are tasks that, indirectly, also fall to the Catholic Church. Indeed, the latter has considerable influence that would be dishonest not to use by hiding behind theological arguments or fidelity to doctrine.

The Pope, with more than a billion followers and the influence he can have on them, undoubtedly has an enormous responsibility on a global scale. He must assume it. Francis has been, in my opinion and to my knowledge, one of the only popes who has understood and bravely assumed this task through his positions on the preservation of nature (see his Encyclical Laudato Si'), on poverty, on migrants, or on interreligious dialogue.

It would obviously be wonderful if the Catholic Church continued to have such an enlightened leader, but a certain pessimism tells me that the conservative wing of the church has already prepared a step backwards, when there is more than ever a need to move forward.