Many of you may have wondered why I haven’t endorsed a candidate for the next Bishop of Rome. For one thing, I don’t know a lot about some of the most prominent possibilities. For another, it’s not like I get to vote or that I ever talk to any of those charged with voting. For still another, my endorsement usually turns out to be the kiss of death.
Spengler, not a Catholic but a brilliant, original, and wildly uneven writer on matters Catholic, has endorsed Cardinal Tagle. What we need is an Asian pope–an accomplished theologian who’s from the Philippines AND is ethnically Chinese. The fight of the 21st century will be for the soul of China. Who would be more qualified to lead that fight than a Mandarin-speaking pope?
Spengler’s “Asian solution to the church’s dilemma” emerges after exploring the downsides of having a Latin American or African pope–a pope from the Global South– at this time. An American Bishop of Rome isn’t in the cards. We’ve have two non-Italian Europeans in a row, and they’ve addressed magnificiently many issues, but they’ve also left many unresolved. Spengler did forget to mention Australia’s Cardinal Pell, an astute and fairly scholarly man who has always impressed me.
Spengler’s article is, it goes without saysing, written from a Jewish perspective.
Although I don’t agree with every detail of his perspective, I agree that it’s possible that a pope from the Global South (or the Middle East) would undo the accomplishments both theological and practical of our present philosopher-pope in reconciling Catholic faith with the Jewish people. Spengler claims, following Karl-Heinz Menke, that “Benedict is the first pope since St. Peter…to read the Gospels as Hebrew documents.” AND “In the first volume of his book Jesus of Nazereth Benedict devoted a long chapter to Rabbi Jacob Neusner’s reading of the Gospel of Matthew–an unprecedented gesture towards a Jewish scholar.” I’ve mentioned before the postmodern and conservative alliance he’s forged with the Chief Rabbi of France.
I’m not really endorsing Cardinal Tagle, if only because I just don’t enough about him.
But any student of Walker Percy is all about being attentive to the Church’s “Jewish roots”–or to irreducible evidence for the invincibility of human particularity, of truth that can’t be “subsumed” by impersonal theory.
February 25th, 2013 | 4:10 pm
The pope’s insightful comments re: the future of the Church (Christianity) strike me as prophetic:
“We might have to part with the notion of a popular Church. It is possible that we are on the verge of a new era in the history of the Church, under circumstances very different from those we have faced in the past, when Christianity will resemble the mustard seed [Matthew 13:31-32], that is, will continue only in the form of small and seemingly insignificant groups, which yet will oppose evil with all their strength and bring Good into this world.”
February 25th, 2013 | 5:10 pm
Dear Mr. Peter Lawler
I had found your article of paramount interest. We shall therefore await for the descent of the Holy Sprit upon the Sacred College Cardinals to choose our next Holy Father.
Warmest regards
Alma Bella Solis, OCV
February 25th, 2013 | 6:01 pm
There might be something to that endorsement. In George Weigel’s recent article about the next Pope, he had this to say about the Church in China:
“When China finally opens itself fully to the world, it will be the greatest field of Christian mission since the Europeans came to the Western Hemisphere. Like his two immediate predecessors, the new pope should recognize that the church’s future mission in China will be imperiled by any premature deal-making with the Chinese Communist regime, which would also involve an evangelical betrayal of those Chinese Christians who are making daily sacrifices for fidelity to Jesus Christ.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324196204578300234222299360.html
February 25th, 2013 | 10:42 pm
If I remember my Sandro Magister rightly, Cardinal Tagle (before he became a bishop, then Cardinal) collaborated with Fr. Joseph Komonchak’s Vatican II-as-rupture historiography, and his vetting as Archbishop had some shenanigans (i.e., omitted materials) connected with it. Of course, all of that would need scrutiny and confirmation. The few accounts I’ve read of him have extolled his social media savvy and his great abhorrence of ecclesiastical superbia.
February 26th, 2013 | 1:58 am
[...] Many of you may have wondered why I haven’t endorsed a candidate for the next Bishop of Rome. For one thing, I don’t know a lot about some of the most prominent possibilities. For another, it’s not like I get to vote or that I ever talk to Source: Postmodern Conservative [...]
February 26th, 2013 | 6:31 am
Paul, Right. We political scientists can hope that the ‘insider” selection process of the College of Cardinals allows for such vetting as a matter of routine. Again, I don’t know enough about the man to endorse.
February 26th, 2013 | 8:11 am
Sorry to burst the bubble, but despite being a huge fan of Cardinal Tagle myself, it is very unlikely that he would be elected. He’s a Cardinal for less than a year and an Archbishop for less than two: not the sort of credentials that cardinal-electors will find particularly helpful for the massive work that the next Pope will need to do. My guess – for what it’s worth – is that they’ll appoint someone fluent in multiple languages, familiar with the Curia (which needs serious reform), and (hopefully) evangelically Catholic, to quote Weigel’s new phrase.
February 26th, 2013 | 1:10 pm
Patrick, You are probably right. There’s a lot to be said for a young pope, though. Your list is excellent. But who’s the man? Being familiar with the curia isn’t enough, getting it under control is what’s required.
February 26th, 2013 | 1:14 pm
Here’s a comment from the FTs FACEBOOK page:
“We need a pope who is going to root out the nests of vipers in the Vatican.”
February 26th, 2013 | 2:39 pm
I truly believe Cardinal Tagle will be a good shepherd of the Catholic Church. He’s such a brilliant and humble man. Just watching his sermons on television every week touches my soul. I don’t know but there’s something in him that captivates your soul. The church could use such youthful energy and passion to renew the faith of the people. I agree with him that what we need right now is a humbler and simpler church without the arrogance of power. That’s the only way the Church could reach out to the people and have them respond positively. He could really bring integrity to the church leadership and maybe restore the faith of the people and bring back those who have strayed away from the Catholic Church for so long. Plus, we really need a good communicator who can deliver his message with clarity and enthusiasm. I would love for him to become pope, but if he doesn’t I am comforted with the thought that we will get to keep him in the Philippines a little longer. He’s such a blessing and we are happy to have him around.
February 26th, 2013 | 3:41 pm
There may be a lot to be said for a young pope, in the same way that there may be a lot to be said for a black pope, or an Asian pope or something else. But, cardinal electors are more likely to take these things into consideration than just pure faithful charisma and youth: the job is universal, hard, messy and wonderful. They’ll need someone who is therefore capable to do what is necessary in the Curia (or more likely, able to appoint someone who they trust and will) and able to be a universal pastor.
February 26th, 2013 | 6:23 pm
Tagle would be a fine Pope. I’ve been researching him for more than a week and I like everything about him. His lack of experience as a Cardinal and with the Curia are serious, not insurmountable, obstacles. A pope who has been archbishop less than two years and a cardinal only a few months could not be tarred with responsibility for the church’s sex abuse problems. Spengler’s analysis is sound. Tagle wants to help Asia discover the Asianess of Jesus. This project bodes well for both Jewish-Christian relations and Orthodox-Catholic relations. Paul Seaton, Tagle has been criticized for his ‘rupture’ position in The History of Vatican II. However, he’s much closer in thinking to Benedict now, as he discusses in a video interview with Salt+Light’s Witness series. You will find scores of videos by this effective speaker on YouTube. A smiling, joyous, humble man who cries easily in public and occasionally excoriates ecclesiastical arrogance–what a refreshing change! John Paul in his vigor, John XXIII and the Dali Lama rolled into one. A young man from a youthful church. Go, Chito!
February 27th, 2013 | 9:08 am
It would be a beautiful thing for legitimate Philipino patriotism and pride, both at home, in my home state of CA, and around the world where they are often pretty exploited as guest workers. Plenty of dyfunctionality in their politics, but they strike me as a patient and winningly unassuming people, and the more so the more Catholic they are.
February 27th, 2013 | 9:48 am
After GOOGLING the guy a bit, I see a lot of merit in what John and Carl say. Tagle is not a deep theologian, but he clearly has the evangelical touch and might well be the “outsider” who could scare the CURIA straight, so to speak.
February 28th, 2013 | 12:35 am
Is it better for the church to think about the next pope in terms of ETHNICITY and EVANGELISM, or RETURN and RECONCILIATION (who has what it takes to allow priests in the Latin rite to marry and to reunify the Catholic and Orthodox churches)? Is what Catholicism is in trouble with really a PR problem?
February 28th, 2013 | 6:35 pm
I often hear it said that the Cardinals will not vote for a recently appointed Cardinal. However, have a look at both Benedict XV and Pius XI. Pope Pius XI is particularly noteable for having risen from being a priest to Pope in under 3 years. In fact, there were as many relative newcomers to the College elected during the 20th Century as veterans.
I have mixed feelings about Cardinal Tagle as Pope. I was present for his feted catechesis at the International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec. I was impressed. But I have been less than impressed by his links with the School of Bologna. However, I have been saying ever since 11 Feb, I have a feeling he might come through.
March 1st, 2013 | 1:42 am
We should not mistake meekness for weakness. Humility is a virtue!
I love this portion of an article written about Cardinal Tagle:
In his speech to the world Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization in October, then-Archbishop Tagle focused on the humility that must mark the church’s interaction with the world, a theme that recurs in his writings and
homilies.
Being humble means recognizing when the church does not have all the answers, and therefore being willing to remain silent, he told the synod, adding that “a church at home with silence will make the voiceless believe they are not alone.”
In his homily during the Mass for his installation as archbishop of Manila in 2011, he promised to remain humble.
“I tell myself as though it were the Lord telling me, ‘Chito, do not think you have become great because of your new position. Be great rather in
being a beloved and loving disciple of the Lord,’” he said, referring to himself by his nickname.
He also told Catholics the church must trust Jesus like the disciples did.
“We know that the Lord guards his church,” he said. “He keeps watch with us on those long nights of confusion and helplessness in mission.”
“When, in spite of our good intentions and efforts there are still multitudes of hungry people we cannot feed, homeless people we cannot shelter, battered women and children we cannot protect, cases of corruption and injustice that we cannot remedy,” he said, “the long night of the disciples in the middle of the sea continues in us.” But the experience makes the church “grow in compassion toward our neighbors whose lives seem to be a never-ending dark night.”
Source: Story from the Catholic News Service.
March 1st, 2013 | 7:23 am
Cardinal Tagle is half ethnic Chinese
March 2nd, 2013 | 11:39 am
The Church is mired in turmoil for decades by scandals that have been swept under the rug. The greatest growth for the Church is in Asia, Africa and South America. In Europe it is becoming near moribund, many faithfuls are leaving the Church. The papacy for centuries was in Rome, then it moved to Poland, then to Germany (not literally.) The Eurocentricity of the papacy must somehow be interrupted and the time is now to elect someone outside Europe where the growth of the Church occurs. (There are some detractors who want it to contract, but this is foolhardy.)The election of the next pope by the fallibles to elect one infallible (when speaking ex-cathedra), lets not kid ourselves, is going to be a geopolitical decision.The conclave of cardinals must know this.
The age of Tagle may be an edge for him and not a liability. If his biodata is as impeccable as it is published what is the problem? he comes from Asia which is optimally ideal from a country that has the largest Catholic population for hundreds of years; he comes from the Philippines whose southernmost island is Mindanao and has a large Muslim population which has lived in peace with the rest of the population, the occasional uprisings and rebellions notwithstanding;this could be a ready-made window or bridge to better understanding of the Muslim world;if he in fact speaks Mandarin which I just read (a majority of the world population speaks Mandarin) this is a big plus, imagine its impact in China,its most powerful neighbor.
The conclave will not elect someone from a superpower nation,like the US, otherwise too much power is compounded to that nation. The European cardinals will not likely elect someone from Africa, that is too big a leap culturally. It is unlikely that the South American red hats will vote as a block or even if they did they will still be likely outnumbered by the European cardinals.If Europe decides to elect one of their own, which I feel is unlikely, they are mostly too traditionalist ans conservatives who are likely unfamiliar with the digital world and conclave electorate know this. It makes sense that Tagle would be the optimum compromise candidate for the papacy. His youthfulness is an asset and not a liability; he is able to relate to the modern changing dynamics of this world.His one fault as I see it is that he has a very disarming smile which is reflected in most photos published of him. He does not appear papal, but maybe this is what we need, someone who can mingle, live and relate with the people in the street.
March 7th, 2013 | 8:08 am
Catholics & Non-catholics are wishing that the Holy Spirit will be instrumental to inspire every Cardinal to elect the successor of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and of St. Peter to be the next Pope and shall not be based on ethnic origin, racial features and age,but rather his ability to speak with utmost humility,unite and encourage people around the world.God Bless Us All.
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