From Rome, a lesson in leadership
The position of the head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, is easily one of the world’s most powerful and visible spiritual offices with tremendous political influence. Apart from its huge congregation of at least 1.2 billion adherents globally, the Catholic Church has a rich historical tradition that dates back several centuries. All of these make the office of the Pope one of the most coveted, revered and glamorous as the occupant wields enormous spiritual and moral authority. This is perhaps why, in about 700 years, only five Popes had voluntarily resigned from office. The first was Celestine V, a hermit who stepped down from the office in 1294, just a few months after his ascension, because he wanted a simpler and less physically demanding life. And in 1415, Pope Gregory XII resigned from office to help bring an end to rival claims to the papacy and preserve the cohesion of the Catholic Church.
It is against this background that the decision of the current Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, to voluntarily step down as from February 28, is significant in the contemporary history of the church. On February 11, Pope Benedict announced to a shocked world that due to advanced age and increased physical as well as mental incapacity to cope with his responsibilities, he is giving way for the emergence of a new Pope in accordance with the church’s procedures.
Through this action that has been widely lauded as courageous, ennobling and selfless, Pope Benedict XVI has shown a worthy example in a world filled with too many instances of individuals striving to hold on to spiritual or secular positions at all cost. His words announcing this decision clearly show a man of deep humility, simplicity, transparency and honesty. As the Pope simply put it: “After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine Ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which, in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognise my incapacity to adequately fulfil the ministry entrusted to me”. Following this extraordinarily candid confession, the Pope went on to declare that “I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor to Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April, 2005, in such a way that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is”. In a most moving gesture, the Pope asked for pardon for his defects as well as continued prayers for himself, his successor and the church.
There is no doubt that Pope Benedict XVI has demonstrated his abiding love for the Catholic Church, and a readiness to sacrifice his own self-interest for the good of the church. As Pope Benedict moves from the palatial residence of the Pope to a life of prayer and reflection in a monastery in the Vatican, and reverts to the title of Cardinal and his natural name of Joseph Ratzinger, there will be contrasting perspectives on his eight-year reign. Within the context of increased moral relativism and laxity in the world, many support his Papacy’s strong conservative stance against abortion, gay rights and divorce.
Yet, more liberal elements argue that the church under his leadership alienated more traditional Catholics by refusing to be more flexible towards a more secular world. His critics also contend that the strong moral authoritarianism, which he sought to enforce was undermined by widespread allegations of child and sex abuse in the church; crimes which he was perceived as not acting decisively enough to expose and punish. The Pope’s image and judgement was no doubt further tarnished by the conviction of his trusted personal butler for illegally leaking confidential papal memos.
Pope Benedict XVI’s strong sphere of missionary interest was Europe probably because of the historical roots of the church there and the dwindling membership of the church in the region. But in picking the next Pope, the conclave of Cardinals cannot be indifferent to the surging growth of the church in Africa and Latin America, as well as the need for a Pope with the mental and physical vigour to confront the daunting challenges of the church in a changing world.
