A pope for the world God loves

Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him” (Jn 3:17).

The pope is dead, long live the pope! During my postgraduate student days at Catholic University of America, I recall the fateful day when Pope St. John Paul II was shot in St. Peter’s Square during a Wednesday audience (May 13, 1981). The world was stunned. Even in my sequestered academic bubble of canonists in formation, speculation erupted about the ecclesial and global meaning, and the consequences. Why? What now? Where to?

The Holy Father had already given the world – and Catholics are a part of that world – some sense of the direction he would be leading the Church and the world toward. He already had acquired admirers and detractors, as every public figure sooner or later does – and popes are public figures! It was not surprising to me to hear much commentary, on and off the air, of what this brutal turn of events would mean for the Church and the world. 

Some who were much enamored by his leadership echoed sentiments of fear, anger, suspicion and, of course, sadness. It was by no means clear the pope would survive the attack or in what condition he might be, should he recover. Others, perhaps less enthusiastic about his papacy thus far, made polite comments such as, “well, maybe what God wanted to accomplish through him was completed and now he can rest in peace.” All of these reactions (and more) we have seen following the recent death of Pope Francis. In them can be discerned hopes and anxieties about what path the next pope will take to continue his “legacy” or to move in some other direction. 

Some commentary, insightful if a bit provocative at the time, came from renowned historian, Monsignor John Tracy Ellis, who remarked how much more concerned he was with the recent assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan (March 30, 1981). To paraphrase, he said how much more perilous and uncertain he felt as an American about our country, given some of the immediate reactions of those in the president’s circle. Perhaps he was thinking of the claim of U.S. Army General Alexander Haig (“I’m in control here!”), who was secretary of state, which some might have found magnanimous – yet others terrifying. Monsignor Ellis continued, almost wittily, that he was far more concerned then about the stability of the country than about the Church should the pope not survive. He said that, after all, when a pope dies, all we have to do is elect another pope!

Something amazing happens when in such a relatively short span of time between the death of a pope and the election of his successor, the Church and even the world can move from deep mourning to unequivocal joy, notably different from the less than harmonious emotions following civil elections. Despite hopes and speculation prior to the first wisp of white smoke, the appearance of the new successor of Peter on the balcony in St. Peter’s Square is always likely to be a moment of pride and joy, not only among Catholics. In some way, a certain not so veiled parallel with the turn of events between Good Friday and Easter Sunday offers a remarkable reassurance of the enduring presence of the divine in the world. 

Every new pope, of course, will face the scrutiny and judgment of those inclined to impose labels such as “progressive” or “conservative,” inclined toward “reform” or the “status quo.” Will he lead from the head “or” from the heart — as if this must be an either/or. Comparisons are inevitable: more like the last pope or the one before — or even before. What’s in a name? What is to be deduced from how the new pope has chosen to be called?

Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, recently quipped that he had confidence that prior to the start of a conclave, God had already determined who the next pope would be. “I think it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit has already determined who the next pope will be,” he said. “It’s up to the cardinals now to make that decision manifest.” 

Monsignor Ellis had even put it more boldly. He added to his remarks that, unlike the United States (or any other country in the world) the Church has what no other institution can claim regarding its identity and endurance: “a divine guarantee!” Lest that seem an act of self-assigned prophetic boastfulness, I recall Monsignor Ellis’s deep humility. Having attended an award ceremony at Catholic University in which he was being honored for a lifetime of remarkable work as a Church historian — I believe he was around 83 at the time — Monsignor Ellis had only this to say in his acceptance speech. “I am here today able to accept this honor for only one reason: I have reached the age of receiving such honors simply for having lived long enough!” 

I have little doubt that most men who are elected to the Petrine office must assume it with a combination of awe and mystery as to why they had been chosen. Certainly, that is what I first noticed in the demeanor of Pope Francis when he appeared at the balcony after his election. He seemed almost to be staring, stone-faced, at the throng in St. Peter’s Square. I think I was expecting a broad smile and the typical arms-raised gestures of some of his predecessors, even easily to mistake for an invitation for the enthusiastic crowd to amp up the applause. In retrospect, he might have been terrified. Who wouldn’t be? 

Despite first appearances, will the new pope smile or look serious? Does any human being do both all the time? Only the bobbleheads always look the same. Above all, my prayer is that our new Holy Father will have the strength and the courage to be that human being first – and that we will allow him the freedom to be. By “human being” I mean accepting and living as the image of God that he — and each of us — truly is, keeping Jesus at the center of his life, hanging on to the cross, and looking outward to bless a world God so loves. This is the call of every Christian disciple. May our new Holy Father lead us by such example.