That They May All Be One

(Note: This article appears on the April-May 2014 issue of World Mission magazine, for which I write.  Aside from highlighting what stands to be gained during Pope Francis' trip to the Holy Land, this article is my tribute to Pope Paul VI, who will be beatified on October 19, 2014. ) 

Fifty years after the landmark encounter between the heads of the Catholic and Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, Pope Francis will revisit the Holy Land amid continuing tension in the Middle East and lingering roadblocks to Catholic-Orthodox dialogue.

Pope Francis is set to make a historic pilgrimage to the Holy Land from May 24 to 26, as an outward manifestation of his constant appeal for peace in the Middle East, amid continuing conflict in the region, particularly in Syria.  The Holy Father will visit Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. 

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, hopes that the plight of the Church in the Holy Land, particularly the Christians living in East Jerusalem, will be among the issues that will be addressed in the visit.  East Jerusalem, which is home to some of the holiest sites in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, is being claimed by both Israel and Palestine. Patriarch Twal prays that the economic agreement that Israel and the Holy See are working out will not result in the discrimination of Arab Christians, who are concerned that the accord will be an affirmation of Israel’s sovereignty over the entire Jerusalem.

A Mission, a Memorial

Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras and Pope Paul VI

Aside from his call for lasting peace, the Pope is set to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the meeting between Pope Paul VI and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Athenagoras in Jerusalem in January 1964.  The meeting between the two Christian leaders heralded the thawing of and significantly transformed the relations between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which have been separated for a millennium. The current Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew, will meet with Francis in the holy city during the papal visit.  

In an interview with Vatican Insider, Irish Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, describes the Pope’s trip as a “pilgrimage of prayer.”  Although Farrell does not expect anything earthshaking to come out of the meeting between Francis and Bartholomew, he nevertheless emphasizes its importance in terms of publicly reaffirming the two Churches’ commitment to resolving differences and identifying the roadblocks towards full communion between the Churches.

The Progress So Far 

Since the 1964 meeting between Paul and Athenagoras, much progress has been made in terms of overcoming the prejudices and misunderstandings between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.  For one, both leaders lifted the mutual excommunications imposed by the Eastern and Western Churches, which were a consequence of the Great Schism in 1054. In recent times, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has also sent delegations to Rome for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.  The Church of Rome, on the other hand, has been reciprocating this filial gesture by sending its representatives to Turkey on the Feast of St. Andrew, patron of the Patriarchate.

Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have also visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey in 1979 and 2006, respectively. Meanwhile, Bartholomew made it clear that advancing Orthodox-Catholic relations is among his priorities, by attending Pope Francis’ installation as Bishop of Rome, the first such gesture by an Ecumenical Patriarch since the 11^th century Schism. 

Most importantly, formal dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, which began in 1980, continues to this day. In October 2007, the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, during its 10^th plenary session in Ravenna, Italy, issued what observers called a “breakthrough” document in terms of the advancement of the ecumenical cause.  In that “Ravenna Document,” member-theologians unanimously recognized the Bishop of Rome as the protos, the bishop of the “first diocese,” as he used to be regarded in the Church in the first millennium.

A Brother’s Embrace     

Very early in his papacy, Francis also underscored the importance of continuing the dialogue

Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

between Catholic and Orthodox Christians. In fact, the Pope’s first words urbi et orbi (“to the city and to the world”) upon his election as the Successor of St. Peter on 13 March 2013, hinted at his desire for unity and dialogue between estranged Christians. In his first remarks from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father repeatedly referred to himself as the “Bishop of Rome.”  Although many perceived this merely as Francis’ commitment to become a more visible and active pastor of his diocese, which his predecessors may have overlooked by exercising their office more on the international level, some observers believe it is a signal to move the ecumenical dialogue forward.   Pope Francis went on to say that he is the bishop of “the church of Rome, which is the one that presides in charity over all the churches,” who begins his journey of “brotherhood, love and trust” with his flock.

Sts. Peter and Andrew

A week after this, during the audience with representatives of the various churches and religions a day after his installation to the Petrine Ministry, Pope Francis referred to Patriarch Bartholomew as “my brother Andrew.” St. Andrew, Bartholomew’s predecessor, was in fact St. Peter’s sibling. In the same audience, the Holy Father renewed his call for unity among the Christian Churches, recalling the words of Pope St. John XXIII during the “Good Pope’s” opening address to participants of the Second Vatican Council in October 1962: "The Catholic Church considers it her duty to work actively for the fulfillment of the great mystery of that unity for which Jesus Christ prayed so earnestly to his heavenly Father on the eve of his great sacrifice; the knowledge that she is so intimately associated with that prayer is for her an occasion of ineffable peace and joy." 

The Russian Resistance

Despite the warming of relations between the two Churches, however, Bishop Farrell says

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill

 much still needs to be done. The prelate emphasizes the need for serious dialogue, particularly regarding the fundamental questions of papal primacy and governance, as well as the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church firmly anchors its belief in the primacy and authority of Peter, the first Pope and Bishop of Rome, over the entire Christian Church, in the words of Jesus Himself: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.  Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Mt 16:18-19)

However, the Russian Orthodox Church, which has the largest population in the Orthodox world, continues to dispute papal primacy.  Rejecting the “Ravenna Document,” it affirmed in a document issued on December 2013 that the Roman Pontiff has no power whatsoever in the universal Church, the undivided Church, except for “an honorary primacy, in love, without legal dominion over the whole Christian Church.” Ecumenical observers fear that this recent and continued resistance by the Russian Orthodox Church will negate whatever progress Francis and Bartholomew will be making during their Holy Land meeting. Meanwhile, Bartholomew sought to cushion this setback by convening all Orthodox leaders in Constantinople in March 2014, ahead of the 2015 Synod of all Orthodoxy. 

A Renewed Hope for Unity

However, in spite of the perceived roadblocks, the Vatican remains optimistic about the future of Catholic-Orthodox relations. If anything, Bishop Farrell says the meeting between Francis and Bartholomew in the Holy Land will continue to set the pace and tone of the dialogue between the two Churches, despite a slowing down at the Theological Commission level.

In addition, at the start of this year, Pope Francis reaffirmed his commitment to ecumenical dialogue by devoting the catechesis of his General Audience on 22 January 2014 to Christian unity. Describing divisions among Christians as "a source of scandal" that "weaken our witness to the Gospel," the words seemed to be a foretaste of the Pope’s mission to the Holy Land to heal rifts, echoing the prayer of Jesus Himself for unity among the members of the Early Christian Church : “That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21).  

From the City, With the World

(Note: I was intending to write about the experience of 13 March 2013 within a month after I got back to the Philippines after that coverage. However, one thing led to another, or more accurately, one excuse led to another.  Despite being a year late, I hope I can recall the events of that day as vividly as I can. After all, this is an experience that I will not easily forget in this lifetime…or even the next.) 

It was 2:30PM.

While most everyone in the Eternal City was taking their siesta or riposo “as the Romans do,” my cameraman and I were aimlessly walking around Via Conciliazione, the primary road leading to St. Peter’s Square, looking for cover from the downpour for which we were not prepared.  Sharing a borrowed umbrella, we tried to find a strategic spot that would allow us to enter the Square easily in case fumata bianca issues from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

The Square on a much quieter time, two days before the start
of the Conclave

Despite the late hour, we had not had lunch.  Instead of eating, we spent our Roman noon finishing all our requirements for the early evening and late night newscasts in Manila, which we had to submit before the 6PM, 9PM and 10:30PM Philippine airings. (The Roman time equivalents are 11AM, 2PM and 3:30PM, respectively).

It was already Day 2 of the Conclave but technically Day 1 of our coverage, because it was the first full day with both morning and afternoon voting sessions by the Cardinal-Electors. Since fumata nera effused from the chimney after the three ballots so far cast, no one knew for certain how long this Conclave would last.  Pundits predicted that a new Pope would be elected on March 15^th, the 4^th day of the voting. For us, that meant three full days of gathering and producing stories for all the newscasts.

The spoils, therefore, had to be divided between my team and that of my female colleague’s.

Finding a story was not the problem.  Everywhere one looked, a story was being told.  The hard part was choosing which one would be worth telling in under 2 minutes (for a package) or 5 minutes (for a live shot).

Then there were the technical and logistical problems.  No matter how well-funded the news organization I worked for was, to go live on four daily newscasts for the next three days would be too costly. Therefore, we had to produce more packages.

The 7-hour difference between Manila (UTC+8) and Rome (UTC+1) during that time of year also meant that we still had to be awake at Roman midnight midnigmi  jrururururuk         kft on some rooftop overlooking St. Peter’s Square where the live set up we rented was, to service the 6:00AM (Manila) newscast. Similarly, we had to be out of our hotel by 8:00AM (Rome) when the Cardinal-Electors began their day in Conclave. Unfortunately, the distance between St. Peter’s Square and our hotel was a good 15-minutes (or 30 euros) by cab, and even farther by bus or Metro.

Paul VI Audience Hall where the international
media was housed

As the desk editor on site, I decided that I would take the afternoon chimney watch from the Square, while my female colleague would take the morning session.  So off I went for my first afternoon chimney watch. Aside from monitoring the chimney, the story that I decided to produce for that afternoon was about the Catholic Church’s use of archaic practices to herald the election of a new Bishop of Rome, despite modern technologies and means of communication.  I contacted a Filipino priest, Fr. Roy Bellen, who was studying Communications in one of the Pontifical universities at that time, to walk me through these practices and what they meant.

Since the rain did not show any sign of stopping anytime soon, my cameraman and I decided to go to the Paul VI Audience Hall, where all the world’s media was housed. But then we, or our stomachs rather, remembered lunch.  Left with no choice, we settled for a fast food restaurant across the Audience Hall serving expensive (and unimpressive) pizza and pasta.

SIDEBAR: For the past few days, my colleagues and I have been having our meals (lunch and dinner rolled into one) at an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant a stone’s throw away from the Audience Hall.)  There was something comforting about Chinese food despite the authentic insalata, pizza, and pasta that one can find wherever one went. Perhaps it was the familiarity of the Asian fare.  Or the reward of lunching on unlimited food (and rice, of course) after a grueling day, jetlag, the rain and the freezing temperature may have been the come on. Thirteen euros may have been too much, but hey, nobody was complaining.

Euroclero (with Philippine flag wrapped around the pole)
from euxus.de

I scheduled my appointment with Fr. Roy between 3:30PM and 4PM.  Since it would be the first time I would be meeting him amid the rain and sea of people, who are expected to descend on the Square to witness the smoke, we agreed to meet in front of the Philippine Embassy in the Holy See, just across the outer rim of the Charlemagne or south corridor of Bernini’s colonnade.  

Because of the rain, my interview with Fr. Roy proved to be very difficult.  But we were able to manage, through the kindness of the employees of Euroclero, one of the more famous ecclesiastical tailors, who allowed us to seek cover in their store’s covered doorway.  After the interview ended at 4:30PM, Fr. Roy invited us to join him and some members of the Filipino clergy in Rome who will be waiting in the Square for smoke from the chimney. 

According to the Conclave schedule released by the Holy See Press Office, smoke was expected at around noontime for the morning session and at 7PM for the afternoon session.  However, if a Pope is elected in the first ballot of either session, smoke would billow forth between 10:30AM and 11AM or 5:30PM and 6PM, respectively.

I asked Fr. Roy why he and his group even bothered to be at the Square that afternoon, given the March 15^th prediction by experts for a new Pope.  Fr. Roy was quick to remind me that Benedict XVI was elected on the 4^th ballot on the 2^nd day of the 2005 Conclave.  The Filipino priests were aware that the 2013 Sede Vacante circumstances were entirely different from 2005’s, but they went to the Square anyway “just in case.”

With a little hesitation, my cameraman and I set out for the Square shortly after the interview

The position of St. Peter's statue on the Square, relative
to the balcony. In front of it is a video monitor.
from mstecker.com 

. We positioned ourselves close to one of the large video monitors, close to St. Peter’s statue on the left side of the Square facing the Basilica. With about an hour to spare before the possible smoke signal, I decided to shoot a stand upper for the package I was making, that would show me pointing to the chimney first, and then to the expectant crowd waiting for news about the new Roman Pontiff.  To do that, I had to come from the crowd, whose backs were turned towards the camera lens, as if I were an onlooker myself, and then walk in the direction of the camera. 

Crowds waiting for smoke from the chimney

To make the long story short, it took us 17 takes to finally produce a good stand up, because either the crowds thinned out, somebody crossed in front of the camera during the take, or I screwed up my lines out of exhaustion and frustration.  To complete the story, we interviewed Filipino pilgrims and other nationals about their expectations of the new Holy Father.  The only thing missing from the report would be the “black smoke” that would come out of the chimney at 7PM, and my package would be complete.

No smoke came out at 6PM. With the news-gathering complete, my cameraman and I just had to wait for the next “smoke signal window” which was at 7PM.  The rain intensified again after a brief lull. To secure our vantage point, we just stood under our umbrella, prioritizing the camera more than ourselves.  My pants were soaked up almost to the knees. Earlier, we were warned by an elderly Filipino priest that our legs and feet were at a very high risk of freezing, if we don’t change clothes or settle in a warm environment soon.  But without much of a choice and with nothing left to do, we just sat there…or stood there…waiting.

After what seemed like an eternity, the Basilica’s bells finally pealed to indicate that it was 7PM.

Everyone then focused their attention on the chimney. There was no smoke. 

The long hand of each of the two 18^th century clocks flanking both sides of the Basilica shifted to 7:01PM.  Still, there was no smoke.

Then 7:02. Still, no smoke.

Everybody seemed to hang on to each minute. Every second mattered.

After what seemed like an eternity, I glanced at the clock on the right side of the Basilica facing the central balcony. It was already  7:05PM, but still, there was no smoke.

Something was definitely amiss.

If anything, it was an indication that it was going to be a long night. I was already conditioning myself. 

With not much energy to spare, I turned to my cameraman. “Tonight’s the night,” I told him, half-jokingly. “We are lucky.”

And then, it happened.

At 7:06PM by that same 18^th century clock, smoke began to billow forth from the chimney.

It was black.

But after a few huffs…and puffs….white smoke streamed from the chimney.

White smoke effuses from the Sistine Chapel's chimney

“Fumata bianca,” someone exclaimed. “White,” “bianca,” whispered many from all corners of the Square.

Whispers turned into shouts, and shouts turned into a singular roar as the smoke that wafted from the chimney became more and more unmistakably white.

To confirm everyone’s observation, the Basilica’s bells began to peal.  Everyone shouted in excitement!

The rain suddenly stopped. The crowd began pushing forward. 

As more and more people were trying to get closer to the Central Loggia or Balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, my cameraman and I got separated. It was a good thing that we agreed earlier on that in case we got lost within the Square, we would later meet at the fountain closest to where we were positioned.  I was left with the umbrella and the heavy tripod. I used it to secure my position, to show that I could not move, and that people would have to pass me or simply let me keep my spot (which was as good as it could get, given the situation.) 

I started calling home. My newsroom, I mean. It was 2:06AM in Manila.

The news producers hooked me up by phone so I could file a report and be quizzed by the news anchor while waiting for the announcement of the new Pope’s name and the emergence of the new Pope himself from the central balcony.

As close as I could get. This was pretty close.

Blah, blah, blah I went, explaining step-by-step what would happen next.

All my life, I dreamt about this day. Many times before, during my "playtime" as a student, I pretended to be reporting on the scene about the election of the new Bishop of Rome. In short, I had "practice." 

But there I was, almost forgetting the name of the man who would proclaim “Habemus Papam” and fumbling at the English translation of the Latin phrases that he would be pronouncing. 

People still kept on pushing forward and we were moving closer and closer to the balcony. There was no more space to share but people still kept pushing forward. I was getting crushed. Despite that, I kept talking on the phone. The people beside me were looking at me strangely, as if wanting me to put down the phone and concentrate on what was to come. Figuring out which language I spoke, perhaps, piqued their interest too.  

Then, at 8:12 PM local time, the white curtains covering the glass doors of the Loggia parted. The glass doors swung open and out came the Senior Cardinal Deacon, Jean Louis Cardinal Tauran, who had the task of announcing to the world the election of the new leader of the  Catholic Church.

Cardinal Protodeacon Jean-Louis Tauran making the announcement
from infovaticana.com

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:
HABEMUS PAPAM!

Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum,
Dominum Georgium Marium...
Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Bergoglio. 

Qui sibi nomen imposuit Franciscum! 




The crowd went wild!  

Because of the noise, I could only make out three parts of Cardinal Tauran's pronouncement: "Habemus Papam," "Bergoglio," and "Franciscum."

I was still on air on the phone at that point so I had to report something. I wasn’t with someone I could confer with so I looked towards the group of what I believe were Irish or Australian seminarians or consecrated religious men, who spoke English with a heavy accent.  To one of them I asked, “Bergoglio, the Argentinian?” to which the man looked at me blankly. I remember Bergoglio being Argentinian but I wasn’t sure if he was a sitting or a retired archbishop.

Then the truth suddenly dawned on me: I wasn’t prepared for BERGOGLIO!

If one were to look at the notes I had in my Ipad (that is IF I had the chance to look at them given the tight mouse hole I was in; I couldn’t even reach for my pockets!), one would not see BERGOGLIO anywhere. The newspapers of the last three days also narrowed the playing field down to three people: SCOLA, SCHERER and OULLET. Of course, I had information about TAGLE by default. But not BERGOGLIO!  Even if I could reach for my Ipad, it I had no internet connection.

I had to rely on my stock knowledge (if at all my brain had created a folder for BERGOGLIO somewhere...)

Trusting my instincts, I began to report (in Tagalog):  “The new Pope is Jorge Maria (I only realized my mistake after I got back to the hotel) Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina. (At that point, I was tempted to say he was Archbishop emeritus.) He chose for himself the name Francis.”  

Taking a gulp (and a leap of faith), I added, “He took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, a man of poverty, humility, a man who was known to have reformed the Church. If reports are to be believed, Cardinal Bergoglio was the runner up to Benedict XVI in the 2005 conclave.  This report was based on a journal that was leaked by an anonymous cardinal who participated in that election.  Bergoglio is also a Jesuit, the first Jesuit to be elected to the papacy. Cardinal Bergoglio is known to be a simple man. He rode the train (or was it bus???) to work.”

(NOTE: When I came back to the Philippines, I had a chance to chat with some of the people who were on duty at the newsroom at that time.  Everyone thought that I was sitting comfortably in the Conclave Press Room, looking at my notes or searching the internet for material on which to base my report on Bergoglio. But, as I said, everything I said came off the top of my head [or my heart], even when I was not sure that what I would be saying was correct. In hindsight, I thank God for giving me the knowledge, wisdom, and foresight at the right time.)

At 8:22PM, the new Holy Father, Pope Francis, finally emerged from the Loggia. Since I broke my eyeglasses on the flight to Rome, to me, he was a blur (I am a bit nearsighted too.) But I could make out a man in white at the center of the balcony.

Pope Francis emerges from the balcony (screen grab from CTV)

Once again, I turned to my “new friend” and asked, “Is he wearing ONLY white?”

With the confidence of a Vaticanista, he replied, “Of course, Popes wear white.”

I just smiled. Okay. Mea culpa.

I should have been more specific.

"Why wasn’t he wearing an ermine-trimmed crimson mozzetta or shoulder-length cape? Where was that ornate papal (state) stole? Why was he wearing ONLY white?" should have been the question(s). 

I did not argue. After all, I would be needing his translation services in a few minutes.

Then, after absorbing everything in front of him, Pope Francis began to speak.

With the help of my "translator," I was able to briefly discuss the Pope’s first message urbi et orbi and finish my phone report. (Thanks again, whoever you are!)

After that, the Pope imparted his first Apostolic Blessing and bade them good night.

Everything I gathered since 3:30PM was now useless. I had to start from scratch. I had to come up with a new package on the election of Pope Francis.

First, I had to look for my cameraman.  Fortunately for us, we found each other as the crowd thinned out. But that meant little time to interview people on the Square, most especially the Argentinians, for their reaction. 

Fortunately for me, the Argentinians who were in the Square got held up by other foreign journalists. They willingly obliged to be interviewed by a Philippine network.

I was also very fortunate to see an old Filipino friend, Fr. Froilan Carreon, a priest from the Archdiocese of Lipa, who I first met in 2011 during the Beatification of John Paul II. He explained to me the choice of name of the new Pope. (Although the Holy See’s explanation came later the next morning, Fr. Froilan and I were convinced that the name was taken after St. Francis of Assisi and not St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit.)

It was almost 10:00PM local time and the Square was almost empty, as if nothing spectacular had just taken place a few hours, or minutes, ago.  Finished with our news-gathering and a new stand upper to go with it, my cameraman and I headed “home.”

On the taxi ride to the hotel, I was rung up again by the office, this time to have a phone conversation with the hosts of the morning show, which started at 5:00AM in Manila. The report went for a good 20 minutes with all the show’s 6 or so hosts asking a question or two. After all, another page of history, not just the Catholic Church’s history, just unfolded.

My cameraman and I finally arrived at the hotel, with our pants and feet still soaking wet.

I took a quick shower, put on some warm clothes, and tried to digest what had just happened in the last 5 hours.

“Did I really witness that?”

"Did I really report on the election of a pope?”

“Was I really reporting from the Square, witnessing history with the rest of the world?"

It was another dream come true.

I realized, I could have died right there and then.

As a matter of fact, I should have died right there and then.

And had I died, I would have been at peace.

After all, I just received the Apostolic Blessing...

From no less than Pope Francis himself.

   

“Mercy” beaucoup

Unless you’re the Pope, a member of the College of Cardinals, a Cardinal-Designate, or a member of the

general secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, you would not have been privy to discussions made in the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals from 20-21 February 2014.  The gathering was convened in preparation for the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family convoked by Pope Francis in October 2014.

“So? Who cares?” your Average Joe(y) would ask.

Well, yeah...

But every well-meaning Catholic should be concerned, given the gravity and urgency of this meeting of the entire College of Cardinals (or at least 150 of its members), the first under this papacy.

On the one hand, the use of the adjective “Extraordinary,” although one of the only two modes by which these general gatherings can be convened (the other being “Ordinary,” of course) should be an indication of the Consistory’s significance.

Angelo Cardinal Sodano
Dean
College of Cardinals

On the other hand, the acknowledgment by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, of the magnitude of the task the “Pastors of the Church” are about to face in October is also disquieting.  In his remarks during the Consistory, Cardinal Sodano said that all hands will definitely be on deck to confront a “pastoral challenge as important as that of the family.”

Big deal.

Doesn't the Church always talk about the family anyway? 

Well (again) yeah...

To be sure, this challenge is nothing new and has long been staring the Church in the face. However, this will be the first time (correct me if I’m wrong) it will be discussed in an Extraordinary General Assembly of the world’s Bishops.

To prepare for this, questionnaires based on the preparatory document released by the Synod secretariat were handed out by local Bishops’ Conferences to gauge the reality of specific problems and issues in their Particular Churches. Among the questions that are in that survey form and which will later be discussed in October’s Synod are cohabitation, same sex unions, the state of children in irregular marriages, and family planning, among other things. So far, only the Bishops’ Conference of Japan has made public the results of their survey.  

And, as if to emphasize the importance of the work that will be done in October even further, Pope Francis

Lorenzo Cardinal Baldisseri,
Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops

created the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, Lorenzo Baldiserri, a Cardinal after Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and before Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Gerhard Muller.  (N.B.  The Secretary of State and the Prefect of the CDF are known as the Vatican’s “number 2 and 3,” respectively.) Baldiserri’s precedence in relation to Parolin and Muller is an indication not only of the importance of the Synod but of the increased collegiality that will likely be exercised in the governance of the Universal Church under this papacy.

Walter Cardinal Kasper
Prefect Emeritus
Pontifical Council for Promoting
Christian Unity

To get the ball rolling, the Pope assigned German Cardinal Walter Kasper to introduce the discussion for the Extraordinary Consistory.  This is not the first time Kasper, a theologian and an author of a book on God’s Mercy, has been thrust into the spotlight by the Holy Father.  During his first Angelus on 17 March 2013 (yes, that Angelus shown in the next two photos), the Holy Father revealed that he recently read Kasper’s book and that it “has done me so much good.”   

To be sure, not a few eyebrows were raised because of the Pope’s decision to have Kasper deliver the introduction. (Was it your left or your right eyebrow?)  As a diocesan bishop in 1993, Kasper’s pastoral plan to help his priests minister to Catholics whose marriages failed but who find stability and happiness in a second union was thwarted by the CDF, whose then-Prefect was Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger.  With Ratzinger at CDF’s helm from that time until 2005, and later on, at the Universal Church’s helm as Benedict XVI, that pastoral plan never saw the light of day. With that piece of history and the topic to be presented at the Consistory, Kasper’s critics surely knew what was coming.

And true enough, that is what hit them.

As a theologian and a Cardinal of the Holy Roman, Kasper’s discourse was faithful to the deposit of faith. He affirmed the indissolubility of sacramental marriage, as Jesus Himself teaches us in the Gospel. (Curiously, this passage was actually the reading on February 28, Friday of the 7^th Week in Ordinary time, eight days after Kasper’s speech.)

However…however, the Cardinal continued, despite the weakness and frailty of the human situation because of the sinful nature of a second union, one that is undertaken while a spouse is still alive…forgiveness…yes, forgiveness is still possible.  “If that’s true for a murderer, it is also true for an adulterer,” Kasper said. 

Come to think of it, wasn’t forgiveness possible for the tax collector who eventually became one of the

Twelve Apostles? (Mt 9:9)? Did it not become a reality for the thief hanging beside Jesus on the Cross on Calvary? (Lk 23:43) Wasn’t it true for the adulterous woman --- yes, an adulterer --- who was nearly stoned to death by the crowd but was not condemned by Jesus Himself (Jn 8:11)? 

No doubt about it, Kasper’s pronouncements caused a stir among and were condemned by traditionalist circles. They said that the Cardinal provided another opening for certain sectors in the Church to once again capitalize on the Pope’s “program of mercy” to push for the changing of existing Catholic doctrine.

Raymond Cardinal Burke
Prefect, Sacred Tribunal of the
Apostolic Signatura

In a recent column published in L’Osservatore Romano, Raymond Cardinal Burke, the Vatican’s “Chief Justice” who is widely seen as a champion of the conservative Catholics' cause, blasted those who lavish Pope Francis with false praise for his unique pastoral approach. Burke contended that these “cheerleaders” are misleading the faithful into believing that the Pope’s popular style and welcoming attitude towards those who have been isolated from the Church because of harsh doctrine hint at a softening of his stance on the Church’s non-negotiable moral truths to draw more lukewarm Catholics back into the fold.

Perhaps fully aware that his remarks will be met with criticism, Kasper himself entered a “qualifying clause” to his hypothesis and warned that those who have “a superficial understanding of mercy at a discounted price” should not twist this proposal as a ticket out of a sacramental marriage in general.  Kasper used the word “tolerance” (of something which is impossible to accept), which is very, very, very different from wholesale acceptance.  

[Curiously, aside from the Gospel reading on the indissolubility of marriage last February 28, the First Reading and the Responsorial Psalm were in line with Cardinal Kasper’s ideas.  The First Reading, taken from James, exhorts us not to complain about or judge one another so that we may not be condemned by the Judge who is standing before the gates (cf Jas 5:9).  Meanwhile, the Responsorial Psalm talks about God’s compassion and mercy (cf Ps 103:4,8).  It’s as if the readings for that day were specifically chosen to back up Cardinal Kasper’s point! ]

Kasper's words, however, were non-binding and will not be the proposal that will be put to a vote. The task of laying down procedures that will allow those estranged from the Church because of sinful unions to receive communion again will be placed in the hands of the Pastors of the Church who will participate in the second part of the Synod, an Ordinary General Assembly which will convene in 2015.

Although we may never know how much the house was divided because of  Cardinal Kasper’s address, Pope Francis, who called Kasper’s discourse a product of “serene theology,” one done while kneeling in prayer, seems to have affixed his seal of approval to it.

Meanwhile, days after that Consistory, doctrinal watchdog Muller, in a press conference for the launching of

Gerhard Cardinal Muller
Prefect, Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith

his new book, asserted that the Church’s doctrine on sacramental marriage cannot be changed. However, new paths to help those in situations described by Kasper “are possible but these must not go against Christ’s will.  God’s mercy is not against God’s justice.” 

MERCY --- a word we have come to know for a very long time but which we are guilty of not practising enough.  It took the present Pope, through his actions, the story of his vocation, and his motto, to remind us of this fundamental trait of God.

I am no theologian nor am I a canon lawyer.  My knowledge of Catholic doctrine is limited and just enough to help me obey God’s laws and the Church’s doctrines, have recourse to the sacraments, and add a few pious devotions here and there. But I strongly believe in God’s Mercy, even in the most sinful and difficult situations.

For some who are devout, have been given the wisdom to understand the Catholic faith even more, and who have been blessed to remain in a state of grace, it can be difficult, at times, to see others who are “not like them.”  But who are they, who are we, to judge (Mt 7:1)? 

Whenever I am faced with these difficulties, I always recall this anecdote that I read in a Catholic digest almost a decade ago, about an incident that happened to a woman who was lining up at a checkout stand in her local supermarket in the US.  While waiting for her turn, she noticed the colorful and beautifully crafted bracelet that the woman in front of her was wearing.  On it were the letters “WWJD.”  She couldn’t resist giving the bracelet-wearer a compliment about the accessory.  Without thinking twice, the bracelet owner removed the trinket from her wrist and gave it to the compliment-giver. The astonished recipient was at a loss for words, but regained composure and thanked the benefactor profusely.  Then the new bracelet owner asked, “Why did you give it to me?” The other woman replied, “Oh, I have a lot of them to give away, just like what I did moments ago.”  Startled at this answer, the recipient pressed on, “What do the letters mean?” The generous lady answered, “WWJD --- What Would Jesus Do? It serves as my reminder to act as Jesus would, say if somebody needed some change, a warm meal, or even a shoulder to cry on. You noticed and appreciated my bracelet and the only way I can repay you for your kindness is to give it to you. That’s what Jesus would do.”  They smiled at each other, hugged, and bid each other goodbye.

Not knowing the truth, especially the Church’s doctrines, is not an excuse not to follow the rules or to apply them to one’s life, according to Cardinal Muller.  But for those who acknowledge this truth but are pained by their separation from the Lord and the Church because of their existing union, a life raft, in the words of Cardinal Kasper, must be made available.  It doesn’t mean turning a blind eye towards their sinfulness, but casting a merciful gaze upon them --- just as Jesus would.

We pray for the Pastors of the Church as they embark on the delicate and difficult task at hand. We pray that the Church will not be divided but instead, bring more of Her children back into the fold because of this undertaking.

We also pray for ourselves, especially during this season of Lent, that we may have the Lord’s purity of heart to be able to look at others with more mercy.

Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much, dear Lord!

Mercy beaucoup. Increase our mercy!

 A blessed and introspective Lenten Season to one and all!

The New Normal

Red Hats and Gold Rings.

The stuff that this blog is made of.

That is why on this special occasion --- the creation of Pope Francis’ “First Class” ---  a new blog entry is definitely in order.

Come to think of it, there are many reasons why I should be writing about this Consistory.

For one, there is a Filipino in this batch -- Orlando Cardinal Quevedo, OMI, the Archbishop of Cotabato.

The last time a Filipino Cardinal was created Cardinal was on November 24, 2012, the Solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe. 

It was the “surprise” consistory of Benedict XVI’s pontificate.  

Aside from being the second Ordinary Public Consistory for the Creation of Cardinals within the same year, it was one with the least number of Cardinals named.   

It was also his last.

(Looking back, that highly irregular Consistory was justified when he announced his resignation three months later. Aside from making sure that the number of Cardinal-Electors was at a maximum, he also wanted certain bishops to be in the Conclave that would elect his successor.) 

Of course, Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila,

“Asia’s Rising Star” and a  papabile in the 2013 Conclave, was named in that Consistory.  Who could forget how Cardinal Chito wept...and how a fatherly Benedict XVI consoled him?

(Did I mention I was in a train to Florence when the names of the 6 Cardinals-designate in that Consistory were announced on October 24, 2012? I didn't think so.)

Anyway, back to Quevedo.

Well, what about him?

Much has already been written about this almost 75 year old archbishop since Pope Francis announced his name as part of the first batch of Cardinals of his pontificate.

He is the 8^th Filipino cardinal. 

He is the first from the conflict-torn region of Mindanao in Southern Philippines, which is dominated by our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Described as an intellectual heavyweight, he became President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Secretary General of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences.

He comes from the “peripheries of the world,” not the traditional cardinalatial sees, and therefore, represents the poor.

His colleagues regard him as a "cardinal of peace."

And that, in a nutshell, sums up Orlando Cardinal Quevedo.

Here are screen grabs of Cardinal Quevedo’s creation as cardinal, courtesy of EWTN.

Aside from Quevedo, another Sacred College "inductee" worth mentioning is the successor of Pope Francis as Archbishop of Buenos Aires --- Mario Aurelio Poli.

Aside from working with him in Argentina, Vaticanistas say Francis sees himself in Cardinal Poli in terms of pastoral approach and way-of-life.  

Perhaps it is no coincidence that Poli was given the titular church of S. Roberto Bellarmine, Pope Francis' assigned church in Rome, when he was still Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio.

But what was most noteworthy and unexpected about today’s Consistory was not the low key or lackluster celebration of this otherwise pomp and pageant-filled ceremony.

Although journalists covering the beat obviously tried to exercise restraint, one could not help but notice the coverage given to someone who may have stolen everyone's thunder.

Enter....

...the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI.

To be sure, this is nothing unusual, especially since Benedict XVI has made several appearances, whether in public or through the media, ever since he stepped down from the Chair of St. Peter, which, incidentally is the Feast being commemorated today.

However, this was his first joint liturgical appearance with Pope Francis.  For lack of a better adjective, this is obviously another FIRST in an already long list of firsts in this Papacy as well as in the Church's history.

In deference to Pope Francis, who greeted the Pope Emeritus as he entered and exited the Basilica for the ceremony, comments in social media, news photos, and live broadcast videos of Benedict XVI were kept at a minimum.

Yeah right.

In case you missed it, here's a preview of that "minimum coverage."

Here is Benedict XVI being escorted by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Cardinal Sodano, and the Prefect of the Papal Household (and Papa Benedetto's live-in personal secretary), Archbishop Georg Ganswein.  

Here's the Pope Emeritus being flanked by Cardinals, about a hundred fifty or so of them, who attended the Consistory in preparation for the Synod on the Family convoked by Pope Francis in October. 

Here he is reading the liturgical guide...

Despite the media hype, however, emphasis was made on the fact that Benedict XVI removed his white skull cap, a sign of respect for the Pope, as he greeted the current Successor of St. Peter. 

The Emeritus' outfit also spoke for itself.  As a bishop who was in attendance but not presiding, Benedict XVI, who is known to be a stickler for liturgy and a lover of fine vestments, was expected to be in watered-down papal choir (mozetta and rochet on top of his cassock), much like the cardinals attending the ceremony. However, he was curiously dressed in a grecca (double-breasted overcoat) and capeless papal cassock.

Although these are only a handful of photos and screen grabs from that hour-and-a-half long ceremony, these images speak volumes.

To say the least, these are still very exciting times...even if a year has already passed since the transition. 

This is not the list time we will be seeing the Pope and the Pope Emeritus in one liturgical celebration. (Next up is the Canonization of Blesseds John XXIII and John Paul II, where it is highly anticipated that Benedict XVI will attend.)

This is not the last time we will be seeing two white skull caps being worn by two bishops at the same time.  (Unless of course, I'm in that event as well. Kidding!)

This is the new normal.

But this is still the Church.