Thursday, February 14, 2013
What Do We Need?
The surprise announcement that our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, is abdicating his position because of poor health, has set off a frenzy of speculation about the next pope, and what we 'need' him to be like. The secular media, in predictable fashion, has vilified Benedict because he wouldn't validate their vision of modernity. They felt the same way about Blessed John Paul II during his pontificate, and veered around 180 degrees after his death, proclaiming his obvious greatness. I suppose that's one way to insure that his successor can be called a failure, for not living up to John Paul's standard. Those of us who don't depend on CBS News or CNN for our information, don't believe Benedict was a failure at all.
What do we need in a pope in the 21st century? First of all, we need a man of strong faith. The western world seems to be rejecting Christianity at the same time that non-Christian religions are becoming trendy and gaining in militancy. Our beliefs are under attack from both without and within, and it's becoming easier for people to lose heart. Let's pray that our next pope, through his simple faith in the Gospel and the traditions of our Holy Mother Church, can energize the flock and clearly demonstrate to the world how we need Catholicism now more than ever.
Simplicity is key to another thing I think we really need in the next pope. I've read a fair amount of 'handicapping' commentary which tries to push one or the other candidate for the papacy, often on the basis of perceived intelligence. Like political talking heads, they seem to think we need to get the 'smartest man in the room.' I say - nuts to that. I don't think a whole alphabet of initials behind someone's name means they obviously have the ability to lead a great nation or a church. It just means they can complete course work and satisfy academic requirements. Let our next pope be a man with more compassion and common sense than 'book learning'.
It would be good for our next Holy Father, as recent popes have been, to be thoughtful and willing to listen. Those who talk all the time and don't bother to listen can never really be good leaders, in either the secular or religious world. He should both proclaim the eternal truths of the gospel, and prayerfully consider new interpretations. That doesn't mean I'm hoping he will be a 'transformational' figure who rejects all the teachings that set so many progressive molars grinding. The Catholic Church is not a democracy, and we don't get a vote on what it proclaims as truth, much as some of us might like to. I, for one, earnestly pray that the day will come when women can become priests - but I'm not about to insist that the next pope has to make me happy in that regard. Let him both preach and listen, and he will be a worthy successor to St Peter.
Finally, let's pray that the next pope is a man of joy. The 21st-century world is a truly depressing place, and we need to combat that gloom with all the weapons we have. Our faith is one of those weapons, and not the smallest one. Despite (or because of) the central image of Christ Crucified, the final message of Catholicism is in fact a joyful one. Our Lord was incarnate on earth, suffered for our sakes, and earned for us a lasting peace in the house of His Father. What could be happier than that?
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