Word(s), Poetics and Pragmatics of Homiletics in a Time of Ecclesial Transition

Benedict XVI, the “Pope of Word,” and Pope Francis, the “Pope of Gestures,” are stylistic contrasts who nonetheless share common ground, notably a poetic sense and a commitment to expressing truth. Benedict XVI’s homilies offered a practical demonstration of rhetorical principles, rich with ideas, metaphors, and sources—from the Bible and Church Fathers to contemporary authors. While Benedict offered theoretical insights, Pope Francis makes these principles explicit and concrete. Francis’s key contribution is emphasizing the addressee (the people), making attention to the receiver central to homiletic discourse. Both Popes advocate for a 21st-century preaching guide based on brevity, clarity, simplicity, cohesive discourse, frequent and poetic images, and a positive, propositional language. Their complementary emphases offer a unified vision for modern Catholic preaching.