I am a Catholic. Vacationing left me to Pope Benedict XVI's resignation only last week. Acquaintance with likely papal candidates is now my undertaking. Not experienced in church matters, nary a neophyte to this process.
Who might lead the Catholic Church next? What are his perspectives? His visions? What of his person-as a human being, not as anything theologically, or hierarchically?
Learning about the selection process of bishops--according to Canon Law--is a filter for my own views--educated in the possible while open to the yet-to-be lived.
Contemplating possibilities is a passion. Cynicism is a toxin I do my best to avoid.
Theologian Thomas Reese provided a questionnaire sent to bishop candidates seeking basic information about the candidates to be used in decision making.
"1. Personal Characteristics: Physical appearance, health, work capacity; family condition, especially regarding any manifestations of hereditary illness." [Thomas Reese, Archbishop: Inside the Power Structure of the Roman Catholic Church, Chapter 1, pp.20-21.]
I do not know if the questionnaire is used currently or not in the selection of bishops, or other church leaders, such as the Pope.
Among attributes polled was "physical condition." Living with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, essential tremors, and osteoarthritis, I am attuned to the "physical condition" aspect of evaluating church leaders. Thomas Reese noted that "physical conditions" could be used to disqualify men from consideration to be a bishop.
Papal selection is a more secretive process to say the least. Yet, I am called to evaluate the current papal selection process by Reese's "physical conditions" revelation. John Paul II was noted to have Parkinson's Disease only in his death certificate.
I am led to wonder. If disclosure of "physical conditions" were the norm, who might be selected Pope?
What might physical vulnerability bring to papal leadership?
Papal wish lists are being proffered at the pace of children's Christmas letters to Santa in December. Many Catholic papal wish lists to the College of Cardinals at the Vatican include leadership on vital issues, such as:
1. Clergy sex abuse
2. Financial accountability and transparency
3. Married priests
4. Women's ordination
These are but a few of the issues put forth. All are vital. I defer to other advocates more experienced than I to speak to these and other valid issues of concern.
No litmus test on a single issue will lead to selection of our next Pope. The most effective leader is a man who understands these issues. I pray we may have a Pope receptive to Catholics, and individuals of all world religions of diverse perspectives and convictions.
Within that context, may the College of Cardinals be open to a man who is vulnerable in spirit, compassionate in heart, mindful of understanding, and receptive in manner of being.
Physical condition should be no more a positive selector of a new Pope any more than a negative disqualification to be Pope, or a matter seen worthy of no more note than a death certificate--as with Pope John Paul II's death certificate.
What might the result--the possibilities--be if we opened the papacy to an exemplar of vulnerability? What might the result--the possibilities--be if we opened the papacy who a man who understands being brought to his knees, literally, by his own vulnerability?
[I was witness to breaths held by the physical vulnerability of a priest at Easter time. Would the priest be able to uphold his priestly duties in his physically compromised condition? Yet, that priest's physically vulnerable presence at Easter intensified his message far more than any words could ever have done.]
Others offer themselves as the champions of clergy sex abuse issues, the advocates for financial accountability, the proponents of married priesthood, or the pioneers for women's ordination. I give voice to vulnerability--physical vulnerability.
How might physical vulnerability humble our next Pope to understand the diverse issues, needs, and hopes of Catholics and other world citizens? How might physical vulnerability of our next Pope reveal to each of us to live with our own vulnerabilities as human beings?
