White smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney, Joseph Ratzinger from Germany has became the 265th pope. As a Catholic myself, having a new pope, the leader of the Church suppose to be quite exciting, but I just feel indifference towards the new Pope. According to the news, he leans heavy towards the conservative camp, which on many issues I couldn’t agree with base on my conscience. I don’t worry too much on this front, since it cann’t be worse than the previous Pope. Judging from the photos, Ratzinger lacks the personal charm of John Paul II that holds the Church together. I hope I’ll have better impression on him after meeting him in person at World Youth Day later this August. On a side note, there is an interesting prophecy of the Popes written by Arnold de Wyon in 1595, which is known as the St. Malachy list. The list had predicted 111 Popes before the “end of time”, and Bendict XVI is the 2nd last one. So far with the help of postdiction, the motto descripted in the list are stuntly accurate. Since I never believe in those superstitious talk about the 2nd coming, my intrepretation of this prophecy would be “end of time” actually means the complete disintegration of the Catholic Church. I won’t be surprise if this Pope choose an ulta-conservative path and making the Liberals break away from the Church. I guess I have no regret being part of the Church in its last moment and witness the fall of the largest and most historical religion institute ever existed. My only concern is after the Catholic church gone away, is there any religion force left to resist the Muslim and Prostestant fundamentist?
Tag Archives: pope
Pope’s funeral
Today’s news coverage devoted a large section to Pope’s funderal. I don’t have CNN on cable and I was not really interested, so I didn’t watch it last night. Apparently, it’s a big social gathering for all the leaders of the nataions. Taiwan had made quite a process this time, as the president finally able to shake hands and talk to the leaders of other world powers. Shame on Chinese government refuse to send official representative because of the presents of Taiwan’s president. I feel kinda sorry for Prince Charles, because of the sudden death of the Pope, he has to move his wedding. No wonder people says wedding is planned but funeral just happens.
Tonight, I got dragged to a memorial service of the Pope at St. Mary. I managed to fall asleep while kneeing down during the eucharist adopration. My theory is that between half sleep and half awake is the best state to communicate with God. I feel I had gain more from the inspiration in my dreams than the boring talks from the speakers. Moreover when one is asleep, he is still listening subconciously, the message may sinks in even better. Why can’t the self-claim religious show some respect and let us sleep peacefully in church, as long as we don’t snore? Why people has to pray and worship God using nothing else but a standard template? If God havn’t say anything against sleeping in church, others people please stop making judgements on our way of worship.
Pope John Paul II
Finally, he had passed away after long suffering from Pakinson’s dicease at age 84. He is the 264th pope, the figure head of the Catholic church, which I belongs to. He is an admirable man, although I don’t agree on his ultra conservative view on moral issues, he is well deserved for his credits in fighting against communism, dialogs with other religions and stand up against Bush for world peace. In order to pay tribution to him, I decided to go to mass tomorrow morning. After all the dust are settled, the next focus will be who is the next pontiff. I wish a priest with similiar personality and as respectful as John Paul II will be chosen, however a liberal mind like John XXIII is more than welcome. With the many conservative cardinals appointed by John Paul II, the chance of electing a conservatives one is high. However, we could not rule out the work of the Holy Spirit that may lead the church to another path. John XXIII had succeed under the heavy installment of conservative cardinates by the formor Pius XII, history may repeat itself again. The only concern may arise if a liberal pope is indeed elected, there maybe conspiracy to kill him like the short-lived John Paul I before John Paul II. Anyways, I was worrying that the health condition of John Paul II may not allow him to show up in the World Youth Day. Now, at least it is guarantee that I will able to meet a Pope this summer, no matter who he is.