A POPE’S DEATH AND A POPE’S ELECTION – A TIME OF BLAZING LIGHT

Looking at media coverage of Pope Francis’s funeral and the election of Pope Leo.

The worldwide interest in the event in Rome in recent weeks has been astounding. Even our British BBC and SKY have had nearly 24-hour coverage. The main-stream papers have been full of it as well. That seems to me to be in sharp contrast to their default position of ignoring everything Catholic. It is as though being forced to take note of Francis’ death, they were suddenly drawn into a drama so stunning they could not ignore it.

The more they publicised tributes to Francis, the more they were mesmerised by the Jesus shining out of the man, even though they may not be able to use those words. Being used to dismissing Catholic witness to Jesus as “absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent”, preferring “other securities like technology, money, success power and pleasure” (quotes from Pope Leo’s first sermon), they were suddenly confronted by the vibrancy of the Church they had ignored with prejudice. They did not know it was Jesus shining through his people, but they were gob-smacked to witness a life-force which lit up a broken world rather than cast darknes. After that, they could not resist publicising it.

The whole beauty of the setting - St Peters, its square, the sunshine, the many thousands of people there every day, the number of motivated people of all ages and nations, even the ancient ritual of black and white smoke were compulsive watching and publicising. The ceremonies in which elderly cardinals were wrapped in deep prayer exploring the God dimension before the eyes of the world, challenged the flat, uninspiring and drab world view they usually portray. To the surprise of the many,  the firm trust that God is near and active among us was on full view.

And there was wonder, which is the godmother of faith, at the seeming miracle of President Trump and President Zalinskyy reconciling in the immense splendour of St Peter's Basilica.

The media’s mixed treatment

There was a unusual exposure given to Catholic leaders and commentators, and much of their talk was shot through with genuine decency, restraint and cheerful faith. These were no crack-pots or weIrdos, but a refreshing change from the prophets of doom and the polarised commentators we get day after day. Without knowing it, they were putting on display “communion”, the Spirit’s gift which draws over a billion human beings into unity. What a contrast to the usual sensationalising of conflict!

But they could not resist their need to accentuate opposing views in the Church which most of us are only mildly aware of, as though they were the main issues facing the Catholic Church. There was this tiresome talk of conservatives and liberals, traditionalist and progressives from the talking-heads. Yet when they went among the people in the square, they found joy and evident good-will. This was remarkably present even among the tears of Francis’ passing and funeral.

It should not surprise us that they came with their controversy hats on. They know no better, but how tedious it was! The issue facing the Catholic Church is the same as always: how to be faithful friends and followers of Jesus. Not what political wing we may identify with, but how to be holy individuals and loving as a communion, so that the world meets Jesus and turns to him, who alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Straws in the wind

On this website we seek to enhance Catholic Hope by stressing that God is preparing a new and glorious age of Christianity here in the West. It is in the West that our modern wonderful advances have been produced. Now, here God wants to produce a development of the human heart which more fully lets Jesus inspire us to use these abundant gifts for the good of all.

Here, we frequently offer evidence of this new age dawning. Surely the witnesses to Jesus given over the past few weeks in Rome and around the world are signs of God’s urgent activity. 

France 2025

Another straw in the wind is the remarkable news that 10,384 adults and 7400 teenagers were received into the Church in France this Easter. There has been a 160% increase over the past decade. Read about it in this article from the American Catholic News Agency. ( link below)