Posted on 04/21/2005 4:32:22 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
I'm disappointed. Well, as disappointed as a non-Roman Catholic can be. Not that I have anything against the new pope, Benedict XVI (in case you've been away from civilization for the past week, the 78-year-old German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became the 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Tuesday).
The event was surrounded by such a potent mixture of mysticism and celebration that it was as if we were all Roman Catholics for a day. This is a circumstance that captivated (and annoyed) non-Catholics.
Come on, not even a contentious U.S. national election or worldwide tragedy garnered more media attention than the passing of the beloved Pope John Paul II and the elevation of his successor, Benedict XVI.
And it just seemed to us non-Catholics that part of the public's perceived fascination with what was going on in Vatican City had more to do with America's near worship of European culture than it did with keeping the faithful informed on this side of the globe.
'It will be the end of the world'
For a brief moment, I actually thought Nigerian-born Cardinal Francis Arinze would be a shoo-in for the job. After all, who better to follow in the footsteps of John Paul II -- who ushered in a new spirit of global unity for Roman Catholics by leaving the Vatican and addressing the faithful on their soil -- than Arinze.
Making Arinze pope would have shocked the entire world.
But a day before the cardinals made their decision, a story reported by Agence France-Presse from Vatican City captured the festering problem confronting the cardinals.
Among those speculating on who would be the next pope was a 10-year-old girl named Francesca Colonna, attending mass with her mother and father.
"At school, they said that if a black pope is elected, the sun will crash on Earth, and it will be the end of the world," the girl told the reporter.
And a German priest noted that it "would be hard for Europeans to accept a non-European pope."
Even Arinze had said in interviews that the world "wasn't ready for a black pope."
What that means is that the Roman Catholic Church has gone backward. The most interesting fact to emerge from pope mania was that three black men, born in Africa, have ascended to lead the Roman Catholic Church: Pope Saint Victor I from 186 to 197; Pope Saint Miliades I (311-314) and Pope Saint Gelasius (492-496).
Desmond Tutu, the renowned South African Anglican bishop, had called on the cardinals to choose a black pope.
"The notion of a black pope is, to say the least, controversial, even though three Africans have been pope. It is not quite in the same league as a depiction of Jesus Christ as black. ... Nonetheless, a black pope could do more than break a color barrier -- he could facilitate a greater global understanding of a neglected part of our world: the so-called Third World," Tutu wrote April 18 in an opinion piece published in USA Today.
John Paul II used his power as a world religious leader to effect political change in his native Poland, and is credited with helping to bring down communism in that country. No pope had stepped into the middle of a political fray on a world stage before.
But here's the part that gives even non-Catholics spiritual shivers:
Given how things unfolded, you'd have to believe that John Paul II was chosen by something higher than the men casting ballots. At a time when it was needed most, John Paul II, with his intimate knowledge of the oppression his countrymen suffered under communism, became the leader of one of the most powerful religions in the world.
And he didn't wait for them to seek the gospel of liberty. He took the gospel of liberty to them.
Arinze, who was born in a hut in Nigeria, could have done the same for developing countries by using the papal platform to speak on behalf of the oppressed.
If not now, when?
These so-called Third World countries -- plagued by famine, wars, HIV-AIDS, and every pestilence known to man -- are the home of the despised people that the Gospels describe.
One of my girlfriends is a Nigerian-born immigrant and a devout Roman Catholic. I noticed she didn't say a word during the days leading up to the conclave. She seemed to have been resigned to the idea that the world isn't ready for a black pope.
But if not now, when?
When so many Europeans have abandoned the faith and embraced secularism that Vatican City becomes a tourist trap and historic Roman Catholic churches become as cold as tombs? Or when bishops and cardinals worldwide look out into a sea of brown and black faces rather than white ones?
Pope Benedict XVI, who described himself as a "humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord," will be embraced by black and white Roman Catholics alike because that is the way it should be.
Still, it's pretty clear, at least to this Baptist, that the Holy Spirit didn't get the final word.
Too bad there aren't any brown Catholics. Otherwise it would be a more complicated analysis and would require reasoning and logic.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Gee, the Holy Spirit speaks to her personally, and not to the cardinals.
"My ways are not your ways, saith the Lord."
I think it will turn out that Pope Benedict is exactly the man needed at this time.
Mary isn't a Catholic. Why is she giving her damn opinion?
Mark
Gee, I think some people need to start their own religion and get involved so they can make a difference. Otherwise quit telling people how it should be done.
Mike thought you'd enjoy this babble from Mary the Moocher. Otherwise, RC ping for continued liberal meltdown as they scrape the bottom of the barrell.
There are tons of Black catholics and there were 3 Black popes who all served the Catholic Church on or before the year 496. Looks like the ignorance fairy has struck again.
Just the fact that she can, with a straight face, follow a reference to Cardinal Arinze, one of my favs and a great next pope, with a reference to Bishop Tutu, well, that says it all.
"At school, they said that if a black pope is elected, the sun will crash on Earth, and it will be the end of the world," the girl told the reporter.
Yeah, right. Let me guess - that must have been during earth science class.
Are you familiar with Mary Mitchell? She's a HATER extraordinaire. All she spews is bilge. It's a good thing i'm in a happy mood this morning :-)
And heaven knows, they would certainly need the reminders of the left because, if there were any, they wouldn't think of it on their own. LOL. Yeah, too bad. (eyeroll)
And only their interpretation of it will do, which always grants them an elite status. After all, they know best.
Even though he was my first pick, I would have been really surprised if he was chosen. Became apparent to me that Ratzinger would get the pick and I'm happy. Suppose we got a LIBERAL pope? Then Europe AND Africa would have been SOL. You know liberals are something else. They weren't satisfied with the election of the president this time, and now they're not satisfied with the pope.
Is this statement correct? I know that these Popes were from Africa, but it doesn't necessarily follow that they were black.
That's what the left said would happen if Bush were reelected.
Wonder WHICH baptist church Ms.Mitchell attends.
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