Papal election - New Pope must relate to people
Due to the remarkable esteem in which the late Pope John Paul II was held by people of all religions and none, the resources of the global media are now concentrated on a narrow stovepipe over the Sistine Chapel, waiting to beam news and pictures to millions of the first plume of white smoke signifying his successor’s election.
If anything is predictable in papal elections, it is that nothing is predictable. Down the centuries, but especially in more recent times, conclaves have invariably produced surprises.
This was graphically illustrated by the poor showing of Pope John Paul II, who received only five votes in the first ballot before going on to be elected 27 years ago.
Arguably, the nationality of the new Pope could deeply influence decisions that will affect the lives of over a billion Catholics around the world.
The key question is whether the candidate will reflect the innate conservatism of his predecessor or set a new course for an institution which has survived for 2,000 years.
Seasoned Vatican observers had no difficulty reading the compass set in the homily of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger just before the college of cardinals gathered behind closed doors.
His uncompromising message urged them to focus on the preservation of traditional values and uphold the moral values personified in the policies of the last Pope. Basically, he described their mission as one of defending time-hallowed teachings and rejecting attempts to modernise doctrine.
Though he is among the favourites deemed likely to be elected, as often happens a close vote could yet see the emergence of a compromise candidate.
An Italian Pope would almost certainly continue John Paul’s austere approach on issues such as celibacy, abortion, euthanasia, women and the priesthood, and the use of condoms to combat the relentless spread of AIDS among Africa’s emerging Catholic population.
It remains unclear if an African, Asian or South American Pope would take the church in a more socially progressive direction.
While it is virtually impossible to predetermine the qualities which the next Pope will bring to this daunting task, ideally the kind of man the church is looking for would give continuity to the papacy but would not be afraid to break new ground.
In an era of growing secularism, many people are now seeking a spiritual road map to help them cope with the grinding pressures of their daily lives. Above all, as one cardinal emphasised, people should not expect the new Pope to be a carbon copy of his predecessor, who had imbued his papacy with such a rare blend of personal qualities.
Arguably, the privacy of the conclave will provide those who govern the church with a breathing space, time for a think-in, a reappraisal of an institution which is now at a crossroads.
The ‘de-christianisation’ of Europe is a major issue confronting the Catholic church as young people leave its ranks in droves. How christianity relates to islam is another crucial question on which debate is urgently needed if tolerance is to replace violent fanaticism.
Whether he is conservative or liberal, the new Pope should be acceptable not only to his fellow cardinals but also to the millions of people around the world who will look to him for guidance.
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