Pope Benedict’s First Year

Rocco Palmo has a translation of Pope Benedict’s Easter address Urbi et Orbi on his Vatican-Blog. In his message, Benedict survey’s some of the world’s flashpoints:

May the Spirit of the Risen one, in particular, bring relief and security in Africa to the peoples of Darfur, who are living in a dramatic humanitarian situation that is no longer sustainable; to those of the Great Lakes region, where many wounds have yet to be healed; to the peoples of the Horn of Africa, of the Ivory Coast, Uganda, Zimbabwe and other nations which aspire to reconciliation, justice and progress. In Iraq, may peace finally prevail over the tragic violence that continues mercilessly to claim victims. I also pray sincerely that those caught up in the conflict in the Holy Land may find peace, and I invite all to patient and persevering dialogue, so as to remove both ancient and new obstacles. May the international community, which re-affirms Israel’s just right to exist in peace, assist the Palestinian people to overcome the precarious conditions in which they live and to build their future, moving towards the constitution of a state that is truly their own. May the Spirit of the Risen one enkindle a renewed enthusiastic commitment of the Countries of Latin America, so that the living conditions of millions of citizens may be improved, the deplorable scourge of kidnapping may be eradicated and democratic institutions may be consolidated in a spirit of harmony and effective solidarity. Concerning the international crises linked to nuclear power, may an honourable solution be found for all parties, through serious and honest negotiations, and may the leaders of nations and of International Organizations be strengthened in their will to achieve peaceful coexistence among different races, cultures and religions, in order to remove the threat of terrorism.

Easter Sunday marked not only Benedict’s 79th birthday, but also his first year as pope. It is a good time to look at the direction of this papacy, about which I had many concerns 12 months ago.  Here I am writing as a non-Catholic observer of religion. 

Like many, I had expected Benedict to continue his work as the Grand Inquisitor, casting out the heretics and warning about the evils of relativism (i.e. modernism). Benedict would be the stern enforcer of Vatican doctrine, stepping back from the evangelical exuberance of his predecessor John Paul II.  But it hasn’t turned out that way; Benedict has confounded both his critics and his fans who expected him to "clean house".  Benedict is first and foremost a scholar and a teacher, more at home at his writing desk than jetting around the world.  His first papal encyclical Deus Caritas Est was a brilliant tour de force that even embraced human sexuality. 

Professor James Weiss of Boston College commented in The Boston Globe on Benedict’s restrained style:

Benedict’s way of being pope points to the office, not the personality. John Paul acted as pastor of the planet. Benedict acts as self-effacing steward of a tradition. He doesn’t see history culminating in his own millennial significance, as John Paul did. He desires more consultation with cardinals and bishops. For many, his modest personality makes the Gospel easier to absorb than the dramatic, autocratic John Paul did.

Would I like to see Benedict do more?  Absolutely.  Notwithstanding his Easter message, he has not spoken up as often or as loudly as is needed concerning world conflicts.  The spectre of "preventive war" needs to be addressed directly, as reckless leaders contemplate deploying tactical nuclear weapons.  Benedict’s old colleague from his Tuebingen days and later nemesis Hans Küng takes stock of both the good and the bad in an interview today in HZ-Online.  On the positive side, Küng  notes that Benedict accepted his request to meet – something John Paul II refused for 27 years. But Küng also sees needs for reform which Benedict refuses to address:

KÜNG: Er ist sich sicher bewusst, dass hinter der glanzvollen Fassade päpstlicher Großkundgebungen das innere Leben der Kirche in den meisten Ländern in kritischem Zustand ist: ausgedünnte Kader, mangelnder Nachwuchs, Wegbleiben der Jugend und immer mehr auch der Frauen, fatale Zusammenlegung von Gemeinden und Verkauf von Kirchen, allgemeiner Rückgang der Gottesdienstteilnahme und der kirchlichen Eheschließungen. Ich möchte uns wünschen, dass der Papst nun nach einem Jahr klugen Abwartens zu Taten kommt, um wenigstens einige der wohlbekannten Reformanliegen beherzt anzupacken: etwa die Frage der wieder verheirateten Geschiedenen, des Zölibats der Priester und der Ordination von Frauen – und im ökumenischen Bereich Anerkennung der Ämter der anderen christlichen Kirchen und Ermöglichung gemeinsamer Abendmahlsfeiern.

These issues – celibacy, the role of women in the church, divorce, communion with protestants, etc, – will most likely have to wait to be dealt with by  Benedict’s successor.

Benedict Benedikt papst

Hans Küng