The Pope--Not Dead Yet
Unless you've been under a rock or only paying attention to Brad and Jen, the Pope was recently hospitalized, not an unusual happening for an 84-year-old man with Parkinson's. So of course you have the regular media, the Christian media, the blogosphere, the whole world going nuts on is he going to die, is he going to resign, yadda yadda yadda.
I just have two things to put here that are interesting to me, so you just have to bear with me, all two or three of you.
In this article the Pope is quoted as saying something pretty powerful, something that I hope that I can remember if ever it be necessary. Even if it isn't true it can make your own personal suffering seem less meaningless. Unfortunately, some people do see this same sentiment as a justification of suffering on a whole, but I think the Pope is demonstrating how to live with suffering. Not just bear it, but live with it.
"Your suffering is never useless," the 84-year-old pope told them. "In fact, it is precious because it is a mysterious but real sharing in the saving mission of the Son of God."
The other article I wanted to post from was from my favorite journalist in Rome, John Allen. Many people speculate that the Pope is too infirmed to carry out his duties, but Archbishop Foley said this to John Allen and it made me laugh because I can see a bunch of Cardinals and Bishops hoping for a breather, thinking the old man will let up, but alas.
I asked Foley if the pope's physical condition is having any impact on the work of the Vatican.
"I personally have not experienced a slowdown or lack of direction," he said.
I just have two things to put here that are interesting to me, so you just have to bear with me, all two or three of you.
In this article the Pope is quoted as saying something pretty powerful, something that I hope that I can remember if ever it be necessary. Even if it isn't true it can make your own personal suffering seem less meaningless. Unfortunately, some people do see this same sentiment as a justification of suffering on a whole, but I think the Pope is demonstrating how to live with suffering. Not just bear it, but live with it.
"Your suffering is never useless," the 84-year-old pope told them. "In fact, it is precious because it is a mysterious but real sharing in the saving mission of the Son of God."
The other article I wanted to post from was from my favorite journalist in Rome, John Allen. Many people speculate that the Pope is too infirmed to carry out his duties, but Archbishop Foley said this to John Allen and it made me laugh because I can see a bunch of Cardinals and Bishops hoping for a breather, thinking the old man will let up, but alas.
I asked Foley if the pope's physical condition is having any impact on the work of the Vatican.
"I personally have not experienced a slowdown or lack of direction," he said.
Comments
Here's my favorite comment on the question of JP resigning. It was made by Cardinal Sodano. "Let's leave the question of resignation to the Pope's conscience; if there is someone who knows what has to be done, it is he. If there is a man who has wonderful wisdom, it is he. We must have enormous confidence in him. He loves the Church more than anyone. He knows what has to be done." He added: "Let's not be worried: The Lord Jesus guides his Church. And the Lord is great."
Amen to that.
BTW, if you like that JP comment, you really should check out his Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering.)