On Karol Wojtyla, the Bishop of Rome
When will Pope John Paul finally decide to relinquish the seat of Peter? I am not a Catholic, but even the most devote of that faith cannot but begin to wonder as to the efficacy of their Holy leader with each passing day. Pope John Paul has made some remarkable progress for the Church and through the last few decades has been extremely effective. Yet just as the strength of the sun wanes as it sets behind the horizon, so it is with the current Pope as he rapidly proceeds to the day he will return to the Almighty.
I cannot begin to fathom what is in his mind at the moment. It is a considerable task to lead the largest single denomination in Christendom—not one to be taken lightly. For almost three decades he has held immense power over an incredible expanse of this Earth. The eminence of the loss of such power must be appalling. But how can it be that the Holy Father be concerned with a loss of temporal power when Heaven awaits him?
Or is there something left for him to do here? He must himself feel that he is not done with this world, not yet. He is certainly not done with the Papacy, what it requires, and what it enables. Perhaps he senses these troublesome coming days, the need for strong leaders, and the need for faith. He must know something we do not, for it is an incredible risk in which he is placing the Roman Catholic Church. As a rational person, I myself cannot see any benefit to his remaining in office instead of passing the torch to the next person to be crowned God’s representative on Earth, the Vicar of Christ.
I cannot begin to fathom what is in his mind at the moment. It is a considerable task to lead the largest single denomination in Christendom—not one to be taken lightly. For almost three decades he has held immense power over an incredible expanse of this Earth. The eminence of the loss of such power must be appalling. But how can it be that the Holy Father be concerned with a loss of temporal power when Heaven awaits him?
Or is there something left for him to do here? He must himself feel that he is not done with this world, not yet. He is certainly not done with the Papacy, what it requires, and what it enables. Perhaps he senses these troublesome coming days, the need for strong leaders, and the need for faith. He must know something we do not, for it is an incredible risk in which he is placing the Roman Catholic Church. As a rational person, I myself cannot see any benefit to his remaining in office instead of passing the torch to the next person to be crowned God’s representative on Earth, the Vicar of Christ.
posted by Cogito at 4:58 PM
3 Comments:
My understanding of the Pope has always been one of ambivalence. Clearly, John Paul II has been a major force for good in this world. I respect his accomplishments and am happy to be a co-belligerent with him and many faithful Catholics in the culture wars of our day. For example, the Vatican's position on abortion, stem cell research, and the recent Terri Schiavo tragedy is right on target.
Obviously, as one committed to the principles of the Reformation, I have serious theological problems with the papacy in and of itself. Also, I see the Catholic Church post-Vatican II being too heavily influenced by Karl Rahner's inclusivist/pluralist theology. Many generations of Protestants considered the Pope to be the Antichrist. I definitely think some Popes have fit into that mold, but I'm not ready to say that the office of the papacy itself is the Antichrist.
But I will not grant to him the title, "Vicar of Christ." There is no authoritative basis for me to believe that he holds such a position, and there is a good body of evidence to the contrary. Even if Peter himself acts out of step with the gospel, Paul lays the smack down to his face (Gal. 2:11-21). God's authority does not reside in men or offices, but in the message.
Something strange is happening here. I post comments and they show up on the page that says "Leave your comment," but the comment bank doesn't register them and they do not appear anywhere else.
Honestly Aaron, I must agree with you in most respects. I myself do not think that the Pope is any more the Vicar of Christ than you or I; I was simply using Catholic terminology for him.
However, it is without doubt that the Papacy as it exists today is a conduit for good. The office molds the person who possesses it necessarily into an exceedingly Holy man. (In most respects, and I am not speaking of medieval or renaissance popes. No Rome or Avignon)
Although I am in no way degrading ministering on a small scale, the Papacy allows a greater ministry, a ministry directed more towards Christianity as a whole. The holder is heavily weighted with the wants and needs of the Christians of this world. It requires a life-devotion to the greater good and salvation of man as a whole on the largest scale achievable at this time. The office, therefore, must be given respect for what it is, whether one is a Roman Catholic or merely a Nicene Catholic (Apostolic).
I am unfamiliar with Mr. Rahner's theology; I will have to read up on him.
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