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| Image from Reuters via news.msn.com |
Everyday, we wait for results but perhaps the most awaited one these days is who will be the next Pope, the visible head of the Roman Catholic Church, Vicar of Christ, and head of the Vatican State. With more than 1.2 billions members scattered all over the globe living under various and diverse political, economic and cultural environments, an unbroken history that extends from the ancient to the modern times, and a collection of doctrines and teachings that have changed and is continually renewing the world, the Roman Catholic Church is a very significant and influential institution on earth and leading such a great institution is not for an ordinary candidate to aspire for.
The criteria to be a candidate to the Papacy are simple: one only has to be male and a Catholic to be considered for the post. However, since unlike secular elections, no campaigning is allowed for the Papacy, usually the one elected is a Cardinal [last non-Cardinal to become Pope was Urban VI]. This started when the Church limited the electors of the Pope to the Cardinals [decided at the Second Lateran Council, the Tenth Ecumenical Council of the Church, in 1139].This is perhaps because of the need for experience [who else could effectively guide the Church than a seasoned cleric] and trust among the Cardinals [who would be agreed upon by Cardinals outside of their ranks when no one could campaign for the Papacy?]. It would surely need a great sign from the Holy Spirit for the Cardinals to pick a non-Cardinal to be the next Pope.
List of Papables
List of Papables
The various media have presented lists of possible papables. One list was even posted online during the 7th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate last year, 2012. A newer list of possible successors to the Papal Chair has been posted a few days after the Pope's resignation. Perhaps the expectation and excitement as to who will be the next leader of the biggest Church today - or even the hopes for the future of the course of the Church - had caused for the widespread discussions, guessing, hoping and speculations as to who will be the next Pope, from what continent or country should he come from, what kind of leader will he be - whether a mere pastor, an active proponent of the teachings of Church, a charismatic one to inspire changes - or what stand does and will he espouse regarding the various issues and concerns that the Church is presently experiencing and has to respond to, and more. Of the hopes and expectations as to who will be the next Pope, the most talked about is about the possibility or need for him to come from a Third World country with Latin America being proposed since about 42% of Catholics are living in the continent or from Africa. Here in the Philippines and for Asia, we have our own choice in the person of Luis Cardinal Tagle.
Significance of the election of the New Pope
Significance of the election of the New Pope
The election of the next Pope is indeed very significant in many ways.
First, the new Pope to be elected will have to lead the Church while his predecessor still lives [though it is very unlikely that Benedict XVI would negatively critique his successor for he already pledged allegiance to the future Pope]. We all know that the person we call now as Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, is the first Pope to resign in about 600 years. This decision saddened a lot of Catholics; though many non-Catholics used it to discredit the Church, and the Pope, once more. The last one to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415 because during that time a strong anti-pope was also elected and having two Popes - actually, they became three - has caused division in the Church. This was the period of the Western Schism. The resignation was intended to unify the Church then. So Pope Benedict XVI's resignation was not so easily accepted because it was the first resignation without a real external cause when others were influenced by political issues and moral intrigues [though many consider his resignation as due to the issues that plague the Church today]. Though Canon Law provides for this, a Pope who resigns is not a rule. It is reported that Pope John Paul II actually thought of resigning because of ill health too but did not do so because he said that a Pope Emeritus does not have a place in the Church. The title has now been conferred upon Benedict XVI. But as stated above, Benedict XVI has already pledged allegiance to who will be the future Pope and that he will be a monk to pray for the Church hence the new Pope does not have to worry about any interference from the Pope Emeritus during his term.
Second, the Church is in the midst of many intrigues and presently faces the challenges of various ideologies which seek to discredit, divide and destroy her. There are those who hope for a "progressive pope who will not follow in the footsteps of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, but will finally fulfill the hopes born of Vatican II of a democratized institution, one that listens to the enlightened voices calling for women priests, more married priests, acceptance of contraception and same-sex marriage, and an end to abortion activism." US Catholics wants a younger more liberal Pope. Africans hope that with a new Pope there would be an open and honest discussion on celibacy and the promotion of the rights of women among others.
The next Pope will surely have to face many challenges. It's been noted that as Pope John Paul II faced Communism and while Pope Benedict XVI responded to Relativism, the next Pope will have to tackle militant Secularism. How he does it is for us to wait. However, it is very unlikely that the new Pope will give in to the expectations of those who wish for the Church to make a total turn around from its age-old teachings especially with regards to life, family and marriage for no matter what happens, the Pope will stand up for what the Church teaches. As Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala of the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, states in an interview, "There are no liberals and conservatives in the Catholic Church. It is only those who adhere to Church tenets who are true members of the Catholic Church." He also added that the role of the new Pope will be "to strengthen his brethren, to lead his brethren in the knowledge of God" - a much needed role in face of the trials that the Church currently face.
Third, the Church still has to work hard for the unity of the Church though Benedict XVI has already initiated ways of achieving that. While the new Pope has to steer the Church from attacks outside of her, he also has to keep the Church from leaking. Church unity is an important aspect toward effective evangelization: the Lord prayed for unity before His passion and death [see John 17:21]. He also said that there must be one Fold under one Shepherd [see John 10:16]. A divided Church cannot fully speak of the love of God for the love of God unites, not divide. Though Benedict XVI made initial activities to achieve reunification with other Christian Churches there's so much more to be done.
First, the new Pope to be elected will have to lead the Church while his predecessor still lives [though it is very unlikely that Benedict XVI would negatively critique his successor for he already pledged allegiance to the future Pope]. We all know that the person we call now as Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, is the first Pope to resign in about 600 years. This decision saddened a lot of Catholics; though many non-Catholics used it to discredit the Church, and the Pope, once more. The last one to resign was Pope Gregory XII in 1415 because during that time a strong anti-pope was also elected and having two Popes - actually, they became three - has caused division in the Church. This was the period of the Western Schism. The resignation was intended to unify the Church then. So Pope Benedict XVI's resignation was not so easily accepted because it was the first resignation without a real external cause when others were influenced by political issues and moral intrigues [though many consider his resignation as due to the issues that plague the Church today]. Though Canon Law provides for this, a Pope who resigns is not a rule. It is reported that Pope John Paul II actually thought of resigning because of ill health too but did not do so because he said that a Pope Emeritus does not have a place in the Church. The title has now been conferred upon Benedict XVI. But as stated above, Benedict XVI has already pledged allegiance to who will be the future Pope and that he will be a monk to pray for the Church hence the new Pope does not have to worry about any interference from the Pope Emeritus during his term.
Second, the Church is in the midst of many intrigues and presently faces the challenges of various ideologies which seek to discredit, divide and destroy her. There are those who hope for a "progressive pope who will not follow in the footsteps of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, but will finally fulfill the hopes born of Vatican II of a democratized institution, one that listens to the enlightened voices calling for women priests, more married priests, acceptance of contraception and same-sex marriage, and an end to abortion activism." US Catholics wants a younger more liberal Pope. Africans hope that with a new Pope there would be an open and honest discussion on celibacy and the promotion of the rights of women among others.
The next Pope will surely have to face many challenges. It's been noted that as Pope John Paul II faced Communism and while Pope Benedict XVI responded to Relativism, the next Pope will have to tackle militant Secularism. How he does it is for us to wait. However, it is very unlikely that the new Pope will give in to the expectations of those who wish for the Church to make a total turn around from its age-old teachings especially with regards to life, family and marriage for no matter what happens, the Pope will stand up for what the Church teaches. As Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala of the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda, states in an interview, "There are no liberals and conservatives in the Catholic Church. It is only those who adhere to Church tenets who are true members of the Catholic Church." He also added that the role of the new Pope will be "to strengthen his brethren, to lead his brethren in the knowledge of God" - a much needed role in face of the trials that the Church currently face.
Third, the Church still has to work hard for the unity of the Church though Benedict XVI has already initiated ways of achieving that. While the new Pope has to steer the Church from attacks outside of her, he also has to keep the Church from leaking. Church unity is an important aspect toward effective evangelization: the Lord prayed for unity before His passion and death [see John 17:21]. He also said that there must be one Fold under one Shepherd [see John 10:16]. A divided Church cannot fully speak of the love of God for the love of God unites, not divide. Though Benedict XVI made initial activities to achieve reunification with other Christian Churches there's so much more to be done.
Fourth, the Church must somehow reassert its influence in the world through more concrete manifestations of the command to love one another which according to the Lord himself shall be a consideration for the world to know that Catholics are truly His followers. Moreover, the Church has to concretely manifest that love which inspire us to wash each other's feet. A Church that does not care for its members or disregards the need of others will never pass the Judgment seat. Of course, the Church has been active in ensuring that the works of mercy should be exercised by its members. But we have to be more active in these trying times for today's Church needs to be purified, reformed and restored to face the challenges of the times.
There are other things to consider but I guess these four could already touch the other issues and concerns.
The Pope is not 'picked' by the Cardinals
There are other things to consider but I guess these four could already touch the other issues and concerns.
The Pope is not 'picked' by the Cardinals
Of course the Cardinals elect who will be Pope. But the process is guided by the Holy Spirit. For Catholics and many non-Catholic Trinitarian Christians, the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity who guides the Church and its activities since Pentecost [see Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2]. The Lord Jesus himself strengthened His Apostles by telling them during the Last Supper that they will be comforted by the Holy Spirit and shall be guided in all the truth [see John 14: 16-17]. Like the other activities of the Church such as the Ecumenical Councils, the election of a new Pope is also entrusted to His guidance. As Cardinal Wamala said in the same interview, "the choice of the pope is guided by the Holy Spirit. He will direct the Cardinals to choose the right Pope."
The same observation is sounded by former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich saying, "... a Pope is not picked by the cardinals. Ideally, a Pope is picked by the Holy Spirit." He also mentioned that when the Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, they will have to be reverential and understand as to "what does the human race need in a Catholic Church? What can a Catholic Church bring to save people across the planet? And what kind of leader would be best for that church?" Being a seasoned politician and a convert to Catholicism, I guess he knows what he is talking about.
A priest historian, Father Thomas Reese, said that the Cardinals are looking for a "Jesus Christ with an MBA." He added that what is really needed is a Pope "who can communicate the gospel in a way that is understandable and attractive to people in the 21st century."
The same observation is sounded by former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich saying, "... a Pope is not picked by the cardinals. Ideally, a Pope is picked by the Holy Spirit." He also mentioned that when the Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel, they will have to be reverential and understand as to "what does the human race need in a Catholic Church? What can a Catholic Church bring to save people across the planet? And what kind of leader would be best for that church?" Being a seasoned politician and a convert to Catholicism, I guess he knows what he is talking about.
A priest historian, Father Thomas Reese, said that the Cardinals are looking for a "Jesus Christ with an MBA." He added that what is really needed is a Pope "who can communicate the gospel in a way that is understandable and attractive to people in the 21st century."
For Argentine Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, who is a son of Italian immigrants, the new Pope should "have holiness, physical strength, communications skills and the ability to govern." He mentioned though that the problem is how to find the four qualities together in a candidate to the Papacy but he emphasized that "the most important thing is that he be a man of faith and is not afraid." Adding that the possible Pope must be a saint or if not yet, "at least walking towards sanctity through a life of humility, work, prayer and witness to the Gospel."
My Next Pope
My Next Pope
It is therefore irrelevant whether the next Pope would be Asian, African, European or [North or Latin] American. The important thing is that he responds to the call to steer the Catholic Church well amid the many attacks hurled against her. After all, in the Church, there is neither Greek or Jew. All of us are Christians journeying toward the Father's house, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the Lord's assurance that He will be with us until the end of time [see Matthew 28:20].
My next Pope therefore only has to assure me that he will not lead me away from the straight path - the path which the Catholic Church has trodden upon for the last 2,000 years.
My next Pope therefore only has to assure me that he will not lead me away from the straight path - the path which the Catholic Church has trodden upon for the last 2,000 years.
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