Moments ago, a talking head on one of the cable news morning shows said something to the effect of “Catholics around the world are shocked and saddened at the news from a Cardinal that the Pope’s health is extremely poor.”
I’m not Catholic, pretty far from it, but I do watch the news, and to be frank, I’m surprised that the Pope is still living, let alone doing much else. The “news” that his health is “extremely poor” doesn’t shock me one little bit, and if I were going to be saddened over it, I would’ve been saddened when he first started appearing severely debilitated, like three years ago.
Now I’m more saddened that he continues with the public appearances and the (albeit very limited) travel even though he is obviously suffering from some neuromuscular ailment (presumably Parkinsons, though I don’t know that this has ever been confirmed) and is obviously an unwell, tired elderly man who would’ve been peaceably living out his retirement had he not been elected to the Papacy. I know that he will not retire – he says that he feels that it would be an affront to Christ, and I can understand that – but I cannot help but feel badly for him because he is just so obviously uncomfortable and struggling.
Catholic Dopers, what are your feelings? Are you shocked and saddened by the latest news report from the Vatican? Are you essentially prepared for the inevitable to happen rather soon? Is the wellbeing of the Pope something that’s on your mind at all?
Talk to me about the Holy Father and make a genius or a big old fibber out of the talking head morning cable news guy.
For me, I wouldn’t say I was shocked, per se. I mean, no offense, but just look at the guy! But (and this might just be me, but other Catholics might feel this way as well), I always have this little voice in my brain saying, “yeah, well, he’s the Pope, and he’s still travelling and celebrating Mass and working very hard, usw.” It’s kind of a “he’s sick, but not that sick” rationalization.
And hearing a newscaster when they’re doing a quick story on the Pope mentioning that he seems to be in poor health (i.e. pretty much when any story of the Pope is covered ;)) is, well, different than when an actual Cardinal says the same thing. It’s more official, and makes me have a, “wait a minute…” reaction.
I guess you can liken it to the difference between someone being sick and hearing a family member say, “yes, poor Bob doesn’t seem to be doing well”, and hearing a highly respected and talented doctor saying, “poor Bob is in very poor health”.
I too hate to see him so obviously unwell and struggling to do his job. At the same time, I’m amazed by his determination to follow his commitment to the church through to the end. Personally, I’ll be shocked only if he’s still around at this time next year.
Nobody in my all-Catholic family (well, I refuse to be considered a Catholic anymore, but most of them still are) frankly gives a hoot. It’s a news story and little else. I never really considered the Pope a significant figure in my relationship with God, who, I am convinced, can hear what I’m saying without going through the Vatican.
But I think we’re more casual than most. I DO know a lot of other Catholics who really look up to the Pope and percieve him as being the big guy in a club they take a lot more seriously than my family does. To some, Catholicism is just a structure for faith, but to others it’s a community. Important the way a President is important, or Princess Diana - look at how people freaked out about her.
One of my Protestant pals believes that the Pope literally has occult powers and he uses them to exert total control over Catholics. Truth is, he can’t even get us to all vote for the same party or stop using rubbers.
I disagree with a lot of his stances, but understand why he takes them. More than Ronald Reagan, this Pope probably delivered the deathstroke to international Communism. He’s a good guy and we won’t have him around much longer.
I forget where I first heard the line I’m stealing here, but I think it’s pretty accurate:
“To modern American Catholics, the Pope is like a grandfather or a favorite elderly uncle. Everybody adores him, everybody’s happy to see him, everybody rolls out the red carpet when he comes to visit, everybody smiles and nods politely when he tells stories or starts giving advice… but nobody has the slightest intention of FOLLOWING his advice or DOING anything he tells them they should be doing.”
Personally, as a fairly conservative and traditionalist Catholic, my feelings for John Paul II are mixed. There’s a great deal I admire about him, and I stand with him on most of the important theological issues… on the other hand, he’s been increasingly out to lunch, and that’s not SIMPLY because of his poor health. The way his Church has handled scandals (both financial and sexual), for instance, has been both morally repulsive and utterly inept.
His papacy has been driven, far too often, by a circle-the-wagons mentality. Moreover, he and his closest advisers don’t seem to have any real understanding of what’s going on the world- not any more, at any rate. Even if you HATE the modern world, you can’t combat its evils if you don’t know what’s going on- and it’s pretty clear to me that John Paul and his inner circle don’t.
And if I say this as an admirer, I can only guess how he appears to those who don’t share my admiration.
I happen to think the greatest service he could offer to the Church would be to resign.
I’m certainly not shocked by his condition. I think it was three Easters ago when he needed help doing some of the physical aspects of celebrating the Easter Mass (which is admittedly long). I respect the man, and I personally agree with his conservative management of the Church thoughout his papacy. I’ll be saddened by his death, but hope his Cardinal appoinments will insure that the Church continues on.
I have a lot of admiration for the Pope, and from what I’ve read of his writings (like Crossing the Threshold of Hope and Love and Responsibility), he seems like a very intelligent, sensible, and compassionate man and spiritual leader. Like most people here, I’m not shocked at his deteriorating health, but I am sad that we will probably not have him around too much longer.
Pretty much my thoughts exactly (except that I’m not that conservative a Catholic, although I am observant and do accept and believe the Church’s teaching about the nature of the Papacy).
I understand that there is some controversy as to whether or not a Pope can resign. Apparently it’s only been done once before, and there isn’t much provision in canon law for resignation of a Pope.
RickJay says:
To some, Catholicism is just a structure for faith, but to others it’s a community. Important the way a President is important, or Princess Diana - look at how people freaked out about her.
I suspect most Catholics, whatever their feelings about the Church, would find this comparison (at least the comparison to Princess Diana) odious and insulting.
While I was raised Catholic and attend Catholic church when I attend church at all, I would fall into the most casual category possible of Catholics, what I’ve heard referred to as a “Cheester” (Only goes on Christmas and Easter).
I’ve always had the aforementioned “Kindly Grandfather” feeling about the Pope. He seems a kind and gentle man who has, regardless of possible political and dogmatic indescretions, spent his life in the service of the greatest good that he knew in his world. I’m sure that there are burdens carried in that position that would humble any world leader you could think of, let alone a man who would be considered elderly by most when he took the job.
Anyone who has worked for peace and kindness on this planet in the capacity that John Paul II has is better than any man I can think of amongst my circle of companions. To see him suffer and weaken in his own humanity seems almost unfair.
With that said, a person such as the Pope can almost now seem a bit closer to God than we, as he now suffers constantly to bring the same messages of peace and forgiveness as his death lies but inches before him, much as the man he is said to represent on this Earth once did.
How could one not be saddened to see the weakinging of a man who strove in life for so much?