A New Pope for a New Church

America’s mainstream media devoted a whole week to the suffering and eventual death of Pope John Paul II. By association, the Catholic Church in general was once again the subject of national and international scrutiny. While John Paul II was most certainly a man of exceptional and exemplary faith he, nonetheless—as demonstrated by his public suffering, was a human being struggling to discern, proclaim and reveal the reality of the sacred in our times.

Church tradition and polity assert that the pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter and thus plays a unique and central role in the "western" Roman Catholic Church. The successor of Peter is called to be a source of unity and teaching among the Catholic People of God. That universal symbol of unity has both advantages and disadvantages.

During the long pontificate of John Paul II, a number of our parishioners had the blessing of visiting Rome and making a pilgrimage to the Vatican. Our own Father Bob Nash had an audience with John Paul as well a several other parishioners from both Francis de Sales and Visitation parishes. It must have been a thrilling moment for our local pilgrims to actually meet and talk with the Vicar of Christ. To truly integrate the reality of the universal church with the reality of the church here on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula is work that each of us desperately needs to do. The call of the prince of the apostles is also our call, our vocation. To discover the nexus between the pope of Rome and the parish pastoral council is crucial to our collective understanding of what it authentically means to be church.

The conclave that will elect the next Pope will begin tomorrow. The future of the church hinges, in many ways, on the discernment of the assembled cardinals vested with the responsibility of choosing the next supreme pontiff. I can’t emphasize enough the necessity of our prayers to support these men as they gather to make the momentous decision that will affect our church and our world.

Neither John Paul II nor any of his predecessors have enjoyed the attribute of perfection. They have known both joy and hope, grief and anguish. They have been and will be people whom strenuously holdfast to the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. The next pope will face just as many vexing issues of modernity as his charismatic predecessor. It’s my prayer that he faithfully will adhere to the emphatic proclamation of the Angel Gabriel that was echoed by John Paul II: BE NOT AFRAID!

Our new supreme shepherd should not be terrified by the reality of change, innovation and renewal. Our new Holy Father must challenge us to be courageous and speak truth to power with love and devoid of bitterness. Our "chief priest" should model for us the meaning of the "Real Presence" of Christ by being present to the flock entrusted to his pastoral care.
How wonderful it will be if this bridge-builder continues to foster and augment ecumenical and interfaith dialogue. A dialogue that does not fear breaking bread together and, therefore, opens our eyes to the Christ in people who are different from us.

Finally, our new pope should not fear the terror of the night or the arrows of dissent. Unfortunately, those who are called to be shepherds must anticipate that from time to time they may be subjected to multiple forms of lies, persecution and invective but this, too, is the price of discipleship. Again, one should heed the words of Gabriel: BE NOT AFRAID!

As long as there are people, the mercy and grace of Christ always will be with his church. Let us pray that our new supreme pastor will continue to proclaim the greatness of God!