With These Words

Today is the 1,700th anniversary of the opening of the first Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council. Emperor Constantine had recently converted to Christianity. While he was forcing his subjects to convert, there was a surge of conversions and a surge of differing theologies. Constantine wanted unity in the empire; he didn’t particularly care about the doctrinal matters, only that heresies not break out into violent factions that he would have to deal with.

More than 300 bishops from all over the Roman Empire gathered in Nicaea, in what is now Turkey. Several important matters were discussed, but one of the most lasting was the Nicene Creed, the statement of belief that outlined the basic tenets of Christianity.

It is amazing to think that this creed has been continually proclaimed for more than a millennium. Reciting it every Sunday, one can forget its profoundness. They are bold statements, ones people have fought over, died over, found solace and salvation in.

The International Theological Commission released a document for this anniversary, going in depth on the meaning of the creed. In its opening, the document states: “This has remained in Christian consciousness mainly through the Creed, that Symbol which gathers, defines and proclaims faith in salvation in Jesus Christ and in the One God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Nicene Symbol professes the good news of the integral salvation of human beings from God himself in Jesus Christ. 1,700 years later, we are celebrating this event above all with a doxology, a praise of the glory of God, since this glory has been manifested in the priceless treasure of faith expressed by the Symbol: the infinite beauty of the God who saves us, the immense mercy of Jesus Christ our Saviour, the generosity of the redemption offered to every human being in the Holy Spirit.”

Monday Motivation: Role of the Pope

 “Many expect from the Pope dramatic gestures, strong and decisive interventions. But the Pope believes he must follow no other path than that of trust in Jesus Christ, who cares for His Church more than anyone else. It is He who will calm the storm. How many times has the Master said: ‘Have faith in God. You believe in God, believe also in me!’ The Pope will be the first to carry out this command of the Lord, and to abandon himself—without anxiety or inappropriate worry—to the mysterious working of Jesus’ invisible yet certain assistance to His Church. This is not a sterile or passive waiting; it is a vigilant waiting in prayer. This is the condition Jesus Himself chose for us, so that He may act fully. Even the Pope needs to be helped by prayer.”—Pope Paul VI

Habemus Papam!

Cardinal Robert Prevost has become Pope Leo XIV. When his name was first announced, I was sure I had heard it wrong; I recognized the name but thought, “that’s an American; that can’t be right.” But it was—an American pope. I never would have thought an American would be chosen, either because American Catholicism doesn’t reflect Catholicism in the rest of the world, or because the cardinals would want to temper American dominant influence in the world. However, the cardinals have decided on an American (with strong ties in Peru), and I hope that he proves to be a wonderful leader.

Of course, I know almost nothing else about him beyond a wiki research; I tried to avoid the “most pope-able” articles and speculation. From first impressions, he seems to be very much in the line of Francis. He served for many years in Peru and has a strong affinity for reaching out to the marginalized. He has also worked in the curia and therefore is a familiar face in Rome and probably has good administrative skills in dealing with running the Vatican.

He was born in Chicago in 1955. (His two older brothers have noted that theirs was a White Sox family.) He is of French, Creole, Italian and Spanish descent. His father was a school superintendent, and his mother was a librarian. As a young man he joined the Augustinian order. He served for many years as a missionary and then bishop in Peru. Most recently, he has served as the prefect for the Dicastery of Bishops.

Taking the name Leo indicates that he, like the last Pope Leo, is concerned with the rights of workers and human dignity as well as being a witness to the faith in the face of modernity. 

He speaks several languages. During his first speech and blessing yesterday, he spoke in Italian, Spanish, and Latin. At his first Mass as pope this morning, he gave his opening remarks in English and his homily in Italian.

In his homily, he said, “In a particular way, God has called me by your election to succeed the Prince of the Apostles, and has entrusted this treasure to me so that, with his help, I may be its faithful administrator (cf. 1 Cor 4:2) for the sake of the entire mystical Body of the Church. He has done so in order that she may be ever more fully a city set on a hill (cf. Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world. And this, not so much through the magnificence of her structures or the grandeur of her buildings – like the monuments among which we find ourselves – but rather through the holiness of her members. For we are the people whom God has chosen as his own, so that we may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light (cf. 1 Pet 2:9).”

Salve, Papa Leonem!

Awaiting a Pope (part 2)

Once the College of Cardinals has successfully elected a new pope, the pope-elect is asked if he assents to the election. He is free to say no and turn down the role, at which point, elections must continue. But usually, if a cardinal who will not accept starts getting votes, he will make his intentions known beforehand. If the pope-elect is not already a bishop, at this point he will be ordained (if a layman were selected, he would have to be ordained deacon, priest, and bishop). Each of the cardinals

Since 533, popes have taken regnal names different from their birth names. The pope-elect will declare his new name at this point. He then enters the Room of Tears, a small red room beside the chapel. He has a few moments to collect himself and change into pontifical robes. Up until John Paul I, new popes were crowned with the triregnum, the triple tiara, in a papal coronation. The last four popes have opted instead for a simpler inauguration ceremony.

The protodeacon of the College of Cardinals then appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s and declares “Habemus Papam! (We have a pope!)” and announces the cardinal’s given name followed by his new papal name. The new pope then emerges on the balcony and is greeted as pope for the first time.

The most recent popes have addressed the crowd at this time, giving a short speech and setting the tone for their papacy. The new pope then gives his first Urbi et Orbi blessing. Urbi et Orbi means "to the City [of Rome] and the World, and is a special papal blessing usually given at Christmas and Easter.

I, with the rest of the world, am excited to see who the new pope will be, what name he will take, and what his mission will be in guiding the Church through this current climate. I pray for a man dedicated to being a true pontiff, bridge-builder, one who is clear on theology and on the Church’s mission of drawing all to Christ through mercy, love, and hope. I also hope that I will be able to see this new pope at a papal audience when I am in Rome next month.

Awaiting a Pope (part 1)

Wednesday begins the conclave, one of the most interesting mechanisms of the Church. Conclave comes from the Latin “cum clave” meanings “with the key,” as the cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel, no one going in or out while they deliberate over and pray for a new pope.

The papal conclave is the oldest method of electing a head of state still in use in the present day. While it has certainly changed over time, the idea of the conclave is actually rooted in scripture, when the apostles got together and selected a new apostle, Matthias, to replace Judas. In early Christianity, bishops were often chosen by election of the clergy of that diocese.

In 1059, the College of Cardinals was designated as the electing body of the Bishop of Rome. In 1274 Pope Gregory X established the present system of the papal conclave in his papal bull Ubi periculum. It instructed that the cardinals be isolated in order to stem outside influences and to bring about speedier decisions (it had taken over three years for Gregory X to be elected). Subsequent popes didn’t enforce this rule, however, until Pope Boniface VIII made it canon law in 1298.

The conclave, compared to a normal election, shut off the cardinals from the outside world. This is intended to keep their minds on the spiritual task at hand and not the administrative or social obligations they otherwise have. The cardinals live together, dine together, and can only leave the conclave on account of illness.

The original provisions by Pope Gregory X included that cardinals were forbidden to engage in politics, bribery, or deal-making (unlikely to be enforced) and that if a pope is not been elected after three days, the cardinals are permitted only one dish at their meals; after eight days only bread, wine and water (I’m pretty sure this isn’t in the rules now, but if it is, it explains why the past few elections have been so swift).

But By Their Fruits

Yesterday, the Religious Liberty Commission was established. You’ll have to forgive me for being distrusting of such a commission. While the current administration is demolishing programs that care for the poor and the environment, that make our food and bridges safer, that keep the country running, they somehow are ok spending money on this.

The stated purpose the commission is to provide a report on “the foundations of religious liberty in America, strategies to increase awareness of and celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism, current threats to religious liberty, and strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.”

These are the same people who tried to block Muslims from entering the country, the same people who had pastors arrested just last week for praying in the Capitol rotunda. They follow a man who said he has never asked for forgiveness. I don’t believe they actually care about God, much less religious liberty, the freedom to practice one’s faith. They only care about using religious language to sugar-coat their political goals. They only want a performative faith that can sway the masses. They want to establish a state religion that is Christian in name and adornments only. Those pesky things like forgiveness, loving thy neighbor, and the beatitudes not needed. 

“They say separation between church and state … I said, ‘All right, let’s forget about that for one time,’” he said yesterday. Their motives are clear. They have made it known that the Constitution does not matter to them; free speech and due process and voting rights just get in the way. To them freedom of religion means private Christian schools should get federal funding, megachurches should endorse candidates, and history should be rewritten to make us think it’s always been that way.

Jesus warned against such people: “All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi’ (Matthew 23:5-6).