Pope Benedict XVI
I hesitated to post on Pope John Paul II’s death earlier this month in part because of the other monumental event that occurred just before it—the starvation of Terri Schiavo. However, I’d like to say just a few words about the former pope and then talk a little about the new one.
Pope John Paul II (JPII, I liked to call him) was an amazingly charismatic individual. He was part of a triumvirate that helped destroy the last vestiges of communism in Europe. And, for me, he’s hasn’t just be a pope but the pope. I was born after he was elected and had grown up with him as pope. Sure, popes came before him, but that didn’t reverberate with me personally. So I think it’s going to take a little getting used to a new pope—this new pope.
Pope Benedict XVI—lets just go ahead and shorten that down to “BD16”—is an interesting choice. Supposedly his social disposition is more reserved than JPII. And since the man is nearing 80 years of age, I wouldn’t expect him to be touring the world. However, if he is, as one UK newspaper suggested, “God’s Rottweiler,” then he might be great for the Church.
One thing that JPII didn’t (and perhaps couldn’t successfully) deal with was the sexual abuse scandal that consumed the Church. There’s something wrong with (if what was reported was true) threatening to excommunicate a Cardinal for discussing the papal selection, but NOT excommunicating a priest who rapes a boy. To say that the scandal was “unfortunate” hardly represents the gravity of the situation; and the situation is not over.
I think BD16 will step up to the plate here. If he is willing to deny communion to someone who supports abortion or euthanasia, certainly there is a far greater punishment for priests/rapists. I also think BD16 will start to “clean up house” so to speak beyond sex abuse.
I don’t foresee any married or female priests during BD16’s tenure. But I do wonder whether the Church will begin to change after this pope. Let’s face it, he is much older than JPII was when the latter was elected pope; he may have, what, 5—10 years realistically? Was his election meant to be a long-lasting presence or was it just a last gesture to his predecessor? I don’t know. But I do think that BD16 will stir some things up a bit as long as he has the papal pulpit.
