In February, history was made: for the first time in modern history, a pope stepped down from the papal throne. Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world by announcing his impending retirement, and last week he traded in his trademark red shoes for brown loafers.
This development, of course, has tremendous implications for Catholics around the world. Who will the next pope be? Where will he come from? What is the direction he will set for the church? All of these are important questions. But an equally important question is, What does the election of a new pope mean for non-Catholic Christians?
This question first occurred to me during the last papal election. At the time I was a seminary student, and I found the election process mildly interesting, but didn't really understand how it might affect me. Yet one of my professors followed the conclave with growing interest. Why? He was concerned with the future of the Catholic Church, not just for itself but for global Christianity. In his concern I learned that which decision is made in the Sistine Chapel has implications for all Christians, even Baptists in Virginia. Why?
One reason is that the pope has an authority that makes him influential. Benedict was an accomplished scholar before his election; upon his ascension to St. Peter's throne, his writings hit the shelves of Barnes and Noble and other booksellers across the country. Curious readers of all denominations - including a friend in my own church - opened the writings of this pontiff. Whoever the next pope is, his writings and thoughts will make an impact on the Christian theological landscape.
So, too, will his nationality. There is currently much speculation: will the next pope be a European or other Westerner, or will he come from the Global South (Asia, Africa, Latin America)? As writers like Phillip Jenkins have testified, the Global South is the place of Christian growth, passion, and innovation, while the West is the seat of entrenchment, contraction, and stagnation. A pope from the Global South would indicate a Catholic Church acknowledging a changing reality: Christianity is no longer a Western-dominated and oriented faith. Such an acknowledgement by the world's largest church would help confirm this new reality for Christians of all stripes.
The next pope's theology may also matter for non-Catholics. Like all Christians, the Catholic Church is adjusting to a world where traditional views are being challenged. Catholic orthodoxy holds such (Western) culturally-unpopular views as opposition to birth control and abortion, denial of priestly ordination to women, and absolute dissension to marriage between homosexuals. The Catholic Church is hardly the only Christian community to hold such views, but it is the largest, most visible, and most stalwart. What if the Church elects a pope who favors reform on any of these? Such a move would have ripple effects across the Christian world.
Finally, the pope's position as head of the world's largest church automatically catapults a new pontiff to instant celebrity. The pope is the world's most visible Christian. His priorities and utterances affect public perceptions of all Christians...even in towns like Appomattox.
Who the next pope will be matters to more people than just our Catholic brothers and sisters. It will have implications for Christians all over the world. That's why I'll be praying for the cardinals in the coming week - and why I'll be watching for the white smoke with anticipation.
In Christ,
Adam
This development, of course, has tremendous implications for Catholics around the world. Who will the next pope be? Where will he come from? What is the direction he will set for the church? All of these are important questions. But an equally important question is, What does the election of a new pope mean for non-Catholic Christians?
This question first occurred to me during the last papal election. At the time I was a seminary student, and I found the election process mildly interesting, but didn't really understand how it might affect me. Yet one of my professors followed the conclave with growing interest. Why? He was concerned with the future of the Catholic Church, not just for itself but for global Christianity. In his concern I learned that which decision is made in the Sistine Chapel has implications for all Christians, even Baptists in Virginia. Why?
One reason is that the pope has an authority that makes him influential. Benedict was an accomplished scholar before his election; upon his ascension to St. Peter's throne, his writings hit the shelves of Barnes and Noble and other booksellers across the country. Curious readers of all denominations - including a friend in my own church - opened the writings of this pontiff. Whoever the next pope is, his writings and thoughts will make an impact on the Christian theological landscape.
So, too, will his nationality. There is currently much speculation: will the next pope be a European or other Westerner, or will he come from the Global South (Asia, Africa, Latin America)? As writers like Phillip Jenkins have testified, the Global South is the place of Christian growth, passion, and innovation, while the West is the seat of entrenchment, contraction, and stagnation. A pope from the Global South would indicate a Catholic Church acknowledging a changing reality: Christianity is no longer a Western-dominated and oriented faith. Such an acknowledgement by the world's largest church would help confirm this new reality for Christians of all stripes.
The next pope's theology may also matter for non-Catholics. Like all Christians, the Catholic Church is adjusting to a world where traditional views are being challenged. Catholic orthodoxy holds such (Western) culturally-unpopular views as opposition to birth control and abortion, denial of priestly ordination to women, and absolute dissension to marriage between homosexuals. The Catholic Church is hardly the only Christian community to hold such views, but it is the largest, most visible, and most stalwart. What if the Church elects a pope who favors reform on any of these? Such a move would have ripple effects across the Christian world.
Finally, the pope's position as head of the world's largest church automatically catapults a new pontiff to instant celebrity. The pope is the world's most visible Christian. His priorities and utterances affect public perceptions of all Christians...even in towns like Appomattox.
Who the next pope will be matters to more people than just our Catholic brothers and sisters. It will have implications for Christians all over the world. That's why I'll be praying for the cardinals in the coming week - and why I'll be watching for the white smoke with anticipation.
In Christ,
Adam
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