"Ratzinger's Galaxy" (graphic follow up on Panorama's article)

Cafeteria is Closed ^ | January 20, 2007 | Gerald Augustinus

[NYer]

From the Italian magazine Panorama (click on the image for a bigger version)

The article accompanying this paints a somewhat dire picture of infighting at the Vatican and resistance to the Pope. I'm brushing up on my Italian for my stay in Rome, so you'll have to forgive the rust. It speaks of a "silent battle" within the Curia, with the Pope having to deal with various groups that had formed in the last years of John Paul II.'s pontificate. He writes, "the German Pope would like a Church focused on spreading the Gospel message, with less weight to carry due to fewer bureaucracy (structures). Just a few months before Wojtyla's death, the future Pope had denounced "the filth" lurking within the Church. But, it's not easy to do a clean-up.

Benedict XVI doesn't have the temperament of a decision-maker and he has to deal with age - turning 80 on April 16th. Additionally, his initiatives encounter a lot of resistance. The French cardinals, led by the president of the French Bishops Conference, Jean-Pierre Ricard (made cardinal by Benedict, if I remember correctly.... Editor), are opposed to the liberalization of the Latin Mass of St. Pius V."

He goes on to name the reorganization of the Curia, lenghty and complicated, especially Cardinal Sodano's exceptionally long farewell which forced his successor, Bertone, to live elsewhere for three months. The rotation of Apostolic nuntii was blocked for a while as well.

The author also says that many of Benedict's electors, who'd counted on being rewarded for their support have found themselves disappointed - from the Legionaries of Christ to Opus Dei.

Then there are the always troublesome Americans and Germans, Latin Americans demanding more attention and so forth. One really doesn't envy the Pope.

He says that the Pope had isolated himself for some time in order to write his book(s) about Jesus, the first one, dealing with the time from Baptism to Transfiguration, to be released soon.

The protests by Israel, Islam and the Polish scandal all distracted from the Pope's mission. He closes by stating that it was only recently that the Pope started to form his own little workgroup - Bertone, Mamberti, Lombardi. Other "arrivals" to the Vatican include Diaz and Hummes. He ends by writing that "The shy and solitary Pope" had chosen an "exuberant Salesian, full of initiative", Bertone, as Secretary of State. As the "captain" of Benedict's "squadra" (ie soccer team), he'll have to play quite a few matches against the other "teams" inside the Vatican.

[onyx]

**placemark**

[Hodar]

Silly Question time.
Is the Pope (according to Catholic doctrine) "God's voice on Earth"? If so, then to openly question the Pope is tanamount to blasphemy, isn't it?

If the Pope is merely man's creation, having no religous significance; then this bickering is nothing more than a play over politics and the power that goes along with it.

I don't think that some of these Cardinals have anything more in mind, than their own personal glorification.

"By their fruits, ye will know them" - abridged from Matthew 7:16. But more importantly verse 17 reads: "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit."

[Mrs. Don-o]

Silly Question time.
Is the Pope (according to Catholic doctrine) "God's voice on Earth"? If so, then to openly question the Pope is tanamount to blasphemy, isn't it?

Not a silly question, but the answer is, "No." If the pope were, simply, "God's voice on earth," he would be a kind of all-purpose oracle, even a kind of "medium," robot, or radio receiver --- which he is not.

To get a fuller idea of what Catholic doctrine says about the pope and the general question of authority in the Church, I recommend these links to Catholic Answers.

Briefly, all of what we know about Christ comes from the evangelists and the Apostles; and all of what we know of the Apostles' teachings is found in the New Testament and in the teachings of their immediate disciples and successors, who are known as the Fathers of the Church.

The pope, as successor to the Apostle Peter, has the special ministry of confirming or strengthening his brethren (Luke 22:32), and that's what the pope basically does: he strives to guarantee the faithful transmission of the Faith as it was handed down by the Apostles. He is the chief shepherd (john 21:17), feeding the sheep with these ancient and timeless truths (not his own inventions!); he is not a fount of new revelation.

[AlaninSA]

I used Google translate:

---

Little lines in Latin to the next day of the nomination of the new archbishop of Warsaw, Stanislaw Wojciech Wielgus. Benedict XVI announces to the predecessore, cardinal Józef Glemp, than between three years he will lose also the title it of primate of Polonia, than in the 1992 Giovanni Paul II he had conferred to it to life. It is the last blow to the relationship, more and more cracked, between the German Pope and the Polish faithfuls. The cause of beatification of Karol Wojtyla proceeds to record rhythm but for the Polish Church it is the hour of the yield of the accounts.
Denied the porpora to Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Papal council for the laici, ghostwriter of the last books of Giovanni Paul II. Replaced the cardinal Edmund Szoka, American of Polish origin, to the governatorato one of the Vatican. Next movements: the transfer of the secretary of the Congregation for the causes of knows to you, Edward Nowak, to the small church of Saint Stanislao, as chaplain of immigrates to you Polish to Rome.

And the substitution of the archbishop of Moscow, Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, of Polish origin, in order to favor the encounter between the Pope and Patriarch Alessio II. Benedict XVI heads to reorganize the Church in Polonia, torn between the spirit nationalist and ultraconservative, collection around to the founder of Marja Radio, Tadeusz Rydzyk, and that progressive tied to the intelligencija wojtyliana, animated from Adam Boniecki.

After to have bocciato six candidates, for Warsaw the Pope has chosen Wielgus: along curriculum academic, reputation of conservative but little available to make concessions to the government nationalist of the Kaczynski siblings. Nevertheless, something has not worked in the nomination mechanism: while to Rome the voices were diminished on the involvement of Wielgus in the intelligence agencies, in Polonia ambient governed to you and ecclesiali they blew on the fire of the campaign turns to discredit it.

Benedict XVI has defended its decision until the last one, convinced that he does not have himself “to be indulgere to easy accusations in absence of real tests or ignoring the different preunderstandings” to the age of the communist regimen. But when it is emerged that Wielgus had mentito, and that the relationship of confidence with the faithfuls was compromise, the Pontefice has asked the neoarcivescovo for Warsaw to discharge itself.

6 January, to the term of the putting for the Epifania, the sacrestia of the Basilica of Saint Peter has been witness of the dramatic epilogue. The secretary of State, Tarcisio Bertone, has asked the prefetto for the Congregation for the bishops, Giovanni Batiste King, to communicate to Wielgus the decision of the Pope.

Between those who they did not approve of the nomination was the archbishop of Cracovia, cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. The former secretary of Wojtyla could have reported many particular on the period in which Wielgus had had contacts with the intelligence agencies, but is remained in Hush. Something will reveal in its attended book of memories, written with to the journalist Gianfranco Svidercoschi, in escape next 24 January (One life with Karol).

The dietrofront however it does not have compromise the plans of Benedict XVI on the Polish Church. It is already spoken about the possible substitution of nunzio the Józef Kowalczyk, capro espiatorio of the entire vicissitude. Like successor of Glemp to Warsaw hour the name of the bishop of Radom is made, Zygmunt Zimowski, that it has worked with Ratzinger to the Congregation for the doctrine of the faith. The wojtyliani will remain once again disappointed.

Continuous meantime the hunting against the clergymen who have collaborated with the secret police. The parish priest of the cathedral of the Wavel, Janusz Bielanski has discharged itself, companion of seminary of Dziwisz cardinal. Indiziati Sono also the chancellor of the sanctuary of Zakopane, Miroslaw Drozdek, and the first biographer of Wojtyla, Mieczyslaw Malinski. In the 1978 the intelligence agencies would have enlisted 14 Polish bishops.

And there is who previews that the circle could be tightened until even calling in cause the former secretary of Wojtyla, Dziwisz. But the Pope does not let to intimorire and has denounced, for mouth of its megaphone, father Federico Lombardi, the “strange alliance between persecutory of a time” and the adversaries today.

The Polish vicissitude has made to intuire the silent battle that is consumed within them walls Vaticans. Nearly two years from the election, Benedict XVI still finds itself to having to make the accounts with groups and cordate that they were form to you during the last years of along pontificato of Wojtyla. The German Pope would want one Church concentrated on the announcement of the evangelico message, lightened of the weight of too many structures. Little months before the dead women of Wojtyla, the future pontefice had denounced “the soil” that is hidden in the Church. But it is not easy to make pulizia.
Benedict XVI does not have the temperament of the decisionista and must make the accounts with the age (compirà 80 years the 16 opens them). In more its initiatives they meet many resistances. The French cardinals, guide to you from the president of the episcopal Conference Jean-Pierre Ricard, oppose themselves to liberalize the putting in Pio Latin Saint V.

The reorganization of the Curia, studied from cardinal Attilio Nicora has been stopped in order to reduce the offices and to contain expenses. Along and complex it has been the transfer of the former secretary of State, Angelo Sodano, in its new residence, forcing the Bertone successor to living for three months in one dépendance. Blocked for a long time the spin of the nunzi in the main diplomatic centers.

Disappointed also some great constituents of Benedict XVI, that they counted of being rewards you for their support in conclave. He irritates the legionari to you of Christ and their Mexican supporters, because the founder, Marcial Maciel, accused of sexual abuses, has been condemned from the Pope without process.

The Opus Of sees reduced its presence in the Curia: after the megaphone Joaquín Navarro-Valls, it could leave the assignment also the president of the Papal council for the legislative witnesses you, Julián Herranz, while the competences of its ministry would pass to the Court of the apostolic signature. Bitter mouthfuls also for cardinal Camillo Ruini.

Meantime the American porporati ones demand a greater weight in the Curia since, although the compensations to the victims of the pedofili priests, the USA Church remains to the first place for financial contributions to the Sede Saint. The Latins American, also having embedded the nomination of the former archbishop of Saint Paul, Cláudio Hummes, to prefetto of the Congregation for the clergy, complain the disattenzione of the Pope to the difficulties who crosses their continent.

In the next few days the Papal commission for the Latin America will prepare a list of problems to subject to the Pope in sight of its travel in Brasi them. Difficult also for the German Church to hold united the various spirits, represented from the cardinals Karl Lehmann, Joachim Meisner and Walter Kasper. He is not easy to inside move of one complex geography therefore. For many months Benedict XVI it is appeared block, closed in its study to limare the speeches, to write the book on Jesus di Nazareth.

From the Baptism in the Giordano to the Trasfigurazione (to you open them in bookcase) and to play the pianoforte. Only escapes, the suppers to house of its former secretary, monsignor Josef Clemens. Ratzinger has paid beloved the lack of square game: the diplomatic incident with the State of Israel in July 2005, the furious controversies continuations to the speech of Ratisbona in september, the Wielgus case of these days.

Only little months ago the Pope has finally begun to form its small work group: the secretary of State, Bertone, the “minister of the foreign countries”, Dominique Mamberti, the director of Knows it press, Lombardic. To which they have joined to the Indian cardinal Ivan Dias to the guide of the Congregation for the evangelizzazione of the people and the Hummes Brazilian.

The timid Pope and hermit have chosen like its skillful arm a esuberante and full salesiano of spirit of initiative like Bertone. On the resolution of this relationship the incisività of the riformatrice action of Benedict XVI will depend. The secretary of State has proposed, joking, to form the soccer team of the Vatican. In Curia the championship already is begun: in the next few months one will look at if the team Ratzinger-Bertone will have the better one on the other squares.

[livius]

No, the Pope is considered the Vicar of Christ, meaning virtually nothing more than the bureaucrat in charge. A parish vicar is somebody who is filling in for the imporant person, be he the pastor or the bishop. So the Pope is sort of filling in and running things, as Peter seems to have done among the Apostles.

On rare occasions, the Pope will make a statement that is considered infallible. But it can only be so if it is part of Catholic doctrine from the beginnings - for example, the infallible statement about the Immaculate Conception (that Our Lady was conceived not subject to the stain of original sin) had been believed for centuries in many different environments before it was proclaimed by the Pope. So he can't simply jump up and announce that he had an idea and it's now doctrine!

But I think you're right, these cardinals get very obsessed with themselves, and the struggle between the Pope and the bishops and cardinals goes way, way back. Sometimes for the good, sometimes not. But Christ has given us His promise, and the Church survive in spite of us all.

[livius]

Great graphic! The people closest to him are Hummes (Brazilian), Levada (American) and Re (Italian). I'm not thrilled about Levada, but maybe the Pope - who had met him in other circumstances than as Abp of San Francisco -knows more about him than we do. To me, they all sound like middle of the roaders. But I would suspect that they are loyal middle of the roaders, and if he tells them to do something, they will do it and defend it. That's my take on it, at least, although I am certainly not on an inside track.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

CWNew's summary of the piece via SpiritDaily:

http://spiritdaily.com/cwtemplate.htm

[trisham]

Hodar
Since Apr 12, 2000
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Conservative, abrupt, and logical. I hold religion to be a deeply personal issue, and never a public one. Those who would force their religion, faith or superstitions upon the public, are to be more feared than terrorists at large. For terrorists know they are doing evil to obtain their ends. Religious fanatics, on the other hand, believe that their actions are inherently 'good', even as they trample the rights, dignity and lives of those they wish to 'save'.

I have little use for the self-religious. If you cannot defend an idea without resorting to religion, and/or your interpretation of scriptures; you are a either simply stupid or gullible, either way, devoid of individual thought. For each of us has our own religion, and interpretations; Buddhist, Muslim, Atheist, Christian, Jewish, Wicca and Satanic are all equal under the laws of the land. Logic is the only common trade piece."

[Salvation]

 

[Salvation]

I think looking at the different colored rings is more important than the persons closest to him. Or am I reading this wrong -- it's about the organization of the Vatican.

[TaxachusettsMan]

"No, the Pope is considered the Vicar of Christ, meaning virtually nothing more than the bureaucrat in charge."

WOW!

This would come as quite a shock to the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, to anyone who has read Lumen gentium, (the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), and indeed to anyone familiar with The Catechism of the Catholic Church.

I'm not sure if you're a Roman Catholic, but even if you're not and owned a TV back in April 2005:

the funeral you may have seen on international television and the subsequent election and proclamation of the deceased's successor could hardly be categorized as "the changing of the bureaucrat in charge."

In fact, your description is about as far off as it could possibly be, both as regards the nature of the Church and the Petrine Ministry.

[Hodar]

Thank you; that answers a lot of questions.

[Hodar]

No, the Pope is considered the Vicar of Christ, meaning virtually nothing more than the bureaucrat in charge.

Thank you. This answers a lot of questions I had. For, if the Pope claims ecleistical authority, to question him would be to question the will of God. If his role is to lead the church, then arguments among the various sects are natural extensions of this task.

[Hodar]

Did you have something to add to this discussion? Or do you prefer the role of the sniper? What's on your mind? Pasting my home page doesn't embarrass me. I wrote it, I stand by it. Using my words in a manner to try to intimidate me, simply makes you look foolish.

How does a politically non-religious stance apply to a religious question concerning the bureaucracy of the Vatican?

I had a question about Catholicism, did this question offend you? The intent was to ask a serious question. No one else appears to have been offended by my question. Would you prefer I get my facts about Catholicism from a non-Catholic source?

I was pleased to get 2 serious and polite questions to what I thought was a simple question. Now I understand the role of the Pope better. The Pope acts as a 'President' of the Church, leading as he sees fit - for the benefit of the church. As such, he must manage (as best as he can) various Bishops, Cardinals and others, from various sects; each with varied interests. Thus, questions, disputes and arguments will be normal for this position.

[livius]

The poster is asking about the infallibility question - that is, as if every word that comes from the Pope's mouth is infallible, a common Protestant misunderstanding. In terms of being in charge of the Church, the Pope is not speaking on his own, but is actually speaking out of the accumulated traditional belief of the Church when he speaks infallibly.

In terms of running it, he (unfortunately, in some cases) is not a dictator, particularly since Vatican II with its "collegiality" focus. He is in a sense the coordinator and manager of this group of ecclesiastical bureaucrats (in the nicest sense of the term!), just as Peter was the chief and representative of the entire group of Apostles and thereby of the entire Church. But his day to day administrative powers can wax and wane, and the idea of this that Protestants have - that the Pope says "do this" and it is done - is far from the truth.

As for the personal affection of the faithful for the Pope, that probably depends on the Pope in question.

[trisham]

Your home page says all I need to know.

No reply is necessary.

[TaxachusettsMan]

However much you clarify the Protestant "infallibility misunderstanding" by your response, you do inquiring Protestants no favor with your concept of the Church as a multi-national corporation and the Pope as somehow the Roman Catholic Church's CEO.

That the Vatican has a vast bureaucracy concerned with many mundane practicalities and peopled by personalities typical of such work is quite true. (Remember the story of a Protestant visitor marveling to Pope John XXIII about the size of that bureaucracy and asking, "How many people work here?" Pope John replied, "About half of them!").

Nevertheless, with ready access via the Internet, Roman Catholics and non-Roman Catholics who want to know the Church's teaching on the nature of the Church and the role of the Pope ought to go directly to the Vatican website and access Vatican II's Lumen Gentium, the Catechism of the Catholic Church or at least the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

They'll find that, contrary to the implications of your response, the Church is more than a multi-national corporation and the Pope is more than a CEO.

www.vatican.va