Pope John Paul II and the Papacy

From southern France, Christopher Jones writes: "Last week, while the world watches the atheletes at Olympia, frets over Iraq and prepares yet another American convention, another far more profound event was unfolding at the small French town nestled in the Pyrenees, not far from Pau -- Lourdes.  For the second time in his pontificate, John Paul II traveled to the shrine at  Massabielle.  I should note that John Paul II is the only Pontiff to have ever visited the shrine.  Although it was not a state visit, the major figures of the French cabinet were present as the Pope stepped off his plane.  In an audience, President Chirac whose government vociferously defends the ban on Moslem headscarves and the strict separation of religion from the republican government, bent forward to kiss the Papal ring.  Later, interior minister de Villepin was at the Pontiff's side as he received further dignitaries.

Any doubts that France had abandoned Catholicism for "leisure" were quickly forgotten when the TV cameras turned to show the huge crowds.  But far more moving was the Pope's visit to the grotto where Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879) saw the Blessed Virgin Mary.  The Pope openly broke down and wept, probably at grandeur of the tragic story of Bernadette who was born in total poverty and succumbed to her disease (Tuberculosis) a few years after leaving Lourdes.  She died in Nevers, in the very east of the Bourgogne where you can visit her.  Preserved in a glass casket, yet another miracle occured in death.  Sister Bernadette has not deteriorated.  Even to this very day, she emanates a wonderful  garland like odor. Absolute proof of the miraculous.

Without any doubt, Jacques Chirac and John Paul were the most prominent European opponents of George Bush's Iraq war.  Certainly they discussed the recent events there, like the insurrection in Najaf and other matters.  But there is a lingering feeling in Europe that something is wrong in America.  In a strange way, Americans have become so isolated: they refuse to believe that tanks cannot solve every problem, just like a little earlier the Soviets had to admit that tanks could not stop the collapse of their empire.  Most I know complain that more than ever, Americans hide behind 19th century rhetoric like, "We saved France from the Germans," or "Reagan won the Cold War." Curious, because nobody did more to bring the Iron Curtain down than John Paul"

RH: I WAISly disagree.Pope John Paul II is esteemed for his stand against communism and for breaking the Italian monopoly of the papacy. The terrorist attack on his life aroused worldwide sympathy. He is a man of peace. However, there of a less positive side to him. He hoped to become an actor, to appear on the stage.  Instead, he has appeared on the world stage. He enjoys  going around in the popemobile, waving at applauding crowds. In his pathetic physical and mental condition, he should resign, but he would then lose his audience.  As he deteriorates further, heaven knows what will happen. He has in fact embraced liberation theology in the sense that he looks to the poor rather than to the wealthy and powerful. When he vacates the papacy, two major questions will remain to be solved.  The first is the celibacy of the clergy, which has led to worldwide scandals.  I remember the time when Catholics denounced that apostate Luther, whom they accused of accused of seducing a nun (his wife). Now Rome is reconciled with the Lutherans. It should be reconciled with the idea of married priests. The second problem is theology, where the conservative position of John Paul II is the mirror image of the belief in the inerrancy of the Biblical text of conservative Protestants. We hear a lot about Europe's empty churches. To reverse the trend, both the Catholic and the Protestant Churches, as well as the Jews, must cease to promote doctrines which people with scientific training cannot swallow, such as the account of the creation in Genesis.  See The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Religion (Norton, 2004) by Sam Harris, a Stanford-trained philosopher.  He overstates his case, but there is little doubt that the papal succession will bring great changes.  Or else...