17 February 2013

You have a right to your opinion...

And many of you seem to be exercising that right in the extreme.  I am talking, of course, about the Benedict's abdication and the new conclave.  With the shock over Benedict's decision now settling in, many people are opining on the subject of what they would like to see in the new pope, and even whom they would like to be the next pope.  More liberal Catholics are hoping for a pope who will be a liberal like them, and the traditional Catholics are hoping for a pope who reflects their views.  Both sides seem to hope for a pope who will put the other side in their place, wherever that may be.  My opinion on this is simple: such thoughts can lead to dangerous places.

First, we need to reconcile ourselves to the fact that our opinions and preferences don't mean anything.  The Cardinals are not supposed to be choosing a pope, but discerning who is to be pope, aside from their personal preferences. And when the  discernment is over, and the new pope announced, if it not like the one we want, or not the one we would have chosen, do we renounce our allegiance? Do we express disappointment, that this pope is not what we wanted, rather than joy that we have a pope, and the line of Peter continues?

Be faithful, pray for the conclave, endure and enjoy what is to come.  In all things, rejoice in the Lord.

Having said that...

Is there something I would like to see?

Perhaps.

I have read several bloggers who are hoping for a Pius XIII.  Personally, I would like to see a pope with a name two letters shorter:  Pope Pi, the 3.14159265359....

1 comment:

Patience said...

You're absolutely right of course. People are going on like it's a municipal election. (and personally I wish the municipal elections had a tad more charity in them as well cause I think the next one will be filled with the two extremes hoping to put the other side in their place and as you said; that leads one down the wrong path...