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!