Seen through the lens of its first 100 days, the papacy of Pope Benedict XVI is likely to focus on the quest for truth by challenging the "dictatorship of relativism" and be more collegial and ecumenical than that of his predecessor, said panelists at an Aug. 1 forum.
While there have been subtle indications of a shifting approach to both evangelization and bureaucracy, there have been no "sudden moves" to date, they said.
Also among observations made by four panelists, gathered for a discussion at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison attended by more than 100 people, was that the upcoming World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, and the release of his first encyclical will provide Pope Benedict with the opportunity to showcase his pastoral gift for making complex ideas accessible to the faithful.
John L. Allen, Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter newspaper, pointed to the pope's dramatic homily at the beginning of the papal conclave, and his anticipated first encyclical on the intrinsic relationship between truth and freedom as indications of Pope Benedict's primary agenda items.
In the homily, the pope distinguished between the creed of the church and "a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires."
Allen said that Pope Benedict is "not looking to headhunt, but will draw the line if objective truth is at stake," citing his support for Italian politicians and Spanish bishops who took public stands against, respectively, in vitro fertilization and same-sex marriage.
Less expected, Allen said, was the pope's four-page statement on ecumenism, which said the search for Christian unity is at the heart of the papacy and which seemed to give a "preferential option" for the Orthodox churches of the East.
Allen said there is a new, sincere commitment to more openness and collegiality among the pope, cardinals and bishops. As an example, he cited Pope Benedict's decision to waive the five-year waiting period for the opening of Pope John Paul II's sainthood cause after a majority of the cardinals urged it. He also said that the rules for the upcoming synod of bishops encourage more open discussion than in the past.
Allen said another potential hallmark of this papacy is Pope Benedict's humility. "I do not believe that this pope thinks that the pope has to have all the answers," he said.
Panelist William R. Burrows, managing editor of Orbis Books, traced the pontiff's historical influences and concluded that Pope Benedict "has a nose for smelling out genuine faith in people," and while he is not averse to change he believes that church traditions are meant to celebrate the life of Christ and are not meant to be "changed willy-nilly."
Burrows said that Pope Benedict will try to be a unifying figure and will not carry over his role as prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Dale T. Irvin, dean of New York Theological Seminary, said that the early response of evangelical Protestants to Pope Benedict's papacy is "we've finally got someone who's on our side in the culture wars." Nonetheless, the bigger challenge is for Christians to learn to live in a pluralistic society, he said.
"We're still trying to fit world Christianity into a European/North American model," despite the huge growth of Christianity in other areas of the world, he said. He also said that Pope Benedict "has backed down on the idea that we can heal the doctrinal breach (with Protestantism) any time soon."
Sociologist Susan A. Farrell, associate professor of Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, said that while the groups of feminist Catholic women she studies "didn't get what they wanted in the conclave" there is actually a comfortable sense that "business is going on as usual and there have been no sudden moves."
The progressive wing of the church is quite diverse and has a long-term commitment to the faith, she said. While they are not looking to the pope for change, progressive groups are hopeful that Pope Benedict will prove to be a good listener who reaches out to those who feel marginalized within the church, she added.
World Youth Day in Cologne will not be the media-driven celebrity event it was with the late Pope John Paul II, the panelists agreed. It will provide an opportunity for the world to assess Pope Benedict's capacity to engage the larger culture and evangelize.
Allen said that because Pope Benedict is a genius at taking complex ideas and making them accessible the youths may be able to "catch" the content of his homilies more easily. He noted that the pope will also meet with the Jewish and Muslim communities in Cologne.
"You can't overlook the significance of a German pope meeting with Jewish leaders in Germany," he said. ---CNS |