The Two Popes in Real Life

Popes Francis and Benedict

It was great to hear that both Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce  have received Oscar nominations for their roles in the film The Two Popes. They were excellent as Benedict and Francis, respectively, and Hopkins might be more deserving because he made Benedict -- nicknamed God's Rotweiller -- seem likable, when he often wasn't. When Benedict was pope I found many of his pronouncements imperious and divisive, devoid of respect for other streams of Christianity and other religions.

Hopkins' portrayal suggests that Benedict was struggling to define his role as leader of a church which was shrinking, wracked by scandal, and failing to respond to a changing world. He seemed almost generous in an abdication which was unprecedented, at least in the past 700 years. 



Pope Benedict and Cardinal Sarah

Well, during the past week Benedict has been embroiled in a controversy stemming from a book to which he contributed about celibacy for the priesthood. His hard-line traditionalist views are contrary to those of Francis who seems to be leaning toward the possibility of married priests, particularly in parts of the world which are desperately under-served. To complicate things Benedict claims that he did not co-author the book, nor does he support all the views of the other author, Cardinal Sarah. While Benedict did contribute to the book he wants his name to be removed.  However, Sarah insists that the intention was co-authorship.

I suppose there is a good reason for popes to die in office. It's more than the basic challenge of someone who has resigned not interfering with the current pontiff. The Roman Catholic church has a doctrine of infallibility for the pope in his official pronouncements. While neither is claiming to have made doctrinal statements on this challenging subject, who officially has God's ear? 

In the United Church when a minister leaves a pastorate it is expected that he or she will not interfere in the life of the congregation. Unfortunately there have been many violations of this expectation, often causing tension. Some clergy seem addicted to the congregations they no longer serve, and it can be worse when he or she has retired. I've experienced this myself, although it has never required official action, and I've been careful to keep my distance upon leaving. At times that has been very difficult because of the hopes and expectations of those who remain. 

Let's pray that the two popes sort it out. Is there an ecclesiastical version of the Academy Awards with a special prize for Best Performance in Playing Nicely with Others? Special prayers for Pope Francis, the elected pope, who is attempting to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in a challenging time for the church.