Just watched the highlights of the Pope’s funeral on TV.
What an occasion.
A global event watched by people from all over the world.
From as far afield as Mexico, The Philippines, China and Africa people stopped what they were doing to watch the funeral of a much revered pope.
The service did not let them down. It was a ceremony of high Catholic ritual and ornamentation with the full finery of the Church hierarchy on display. The cardinals were in flaming red, the mourners and pilgrims in black and priests and nuns in white flowing robes. It was a day of colour, celebration and mourning.
It’s a great tribute to John Paul II that so many world leaders attended in person. They ranged from George Bush to President Khatami of Iran. There were kings, queens, presidents, chiefs, princes, sheiks, sultans, imams, rabbis, Hindu holy men, Sikhs, protestants of all denominations, African bishops, Buddhists and Jains.
Arranging the seating must have been a diplomatic nightmare. Who sits next to who ? George Bush at times looked impatient and confused. Prince Charles had an awkward handshake with Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and rumours were eventually denied that the Presidents of Iran and Israel actually exchanged words.
My favourite moment was President Jacques Chirac of France greeting Condolezza Rice. So French. So Chirac ! Seems that even in death, John Paul II was promoting international dialogue.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full Catholic mass before. Sure was interesting to watch how it’s done. Lots of readings, blessings, signs of the cross, singing, reciting, incense, bells, bowing, kneeling and processing. They even seemed to pause for a snack half way through.
John Paul II was a Polish Pope and was revered as a saviour of the Polish nation. They loved him and came to Rome in their hundreds of thousands to pay their respects. At times the ceremony seemed more like a Polish backpacker celebration that a pontiff’s funeral.
One of John Paul II’s great strengths was young people identified with him. He toured the world drawing adoring crowds wherever he went.
What was striking was the depth of feeling and human response to his death. It touched millions. This was no ordinary Pope. People seemed to be reacting to the person, not necessarily his position. He was a human figure and undoubtedly a moral man.
As an atheist, the religious ceremony was no more than historic ritual, but the man was special. John Paul II will probably go down as one of the greats.
Having said that, his papacy wasn’t without it’s controversies and dilemmas. Not least, child abuse and a refusal to accept contraception in the face of AIDS. Both of which are scandalous and should seriously undermine the moral authority of the Church. In my view, it is wickedly immoral for priests to abuse children and for a religious institution to condemn millions to death out of a dogmatic refusal to accept the need for contraception. That is an abomination.
Otherwise, the Catholic Church has to face up to a slump in attendance, growing secularisation in the west and the fallout from the child abuse scandal and cover-up. On top of that, the Church has to confront serious issues like contraception and HIV/AIDS, attitudes to abortion and women priests, homosexuality and celibate clergy. Saying No, No, No is not a responsible answer. Relations with Islam, especially in Africa, will also need to be addressed.
These issues won’t go away and will become more and more acute as time goes on. Liberal and conservative wings will dig in on either side of the issues (as they always do) and doctrinal splits may be inevitable as with the Anglican Church over gay clergy.
Whatever happens, the next Pope has a full in-tray. One of the indicators of how the Catholic Church will address these issues is whether the Cardinals choose a conservative or a liberal as the next Pope.
One to watch…
So yeah... 