This weekend, the world turned its eyes to Rome and reflected on a papacy that shaped both the world's faith and politics. Although Pope John Paul II's death was expected, it was still a source of sorrow for Roman Catholics, many of whom feel as if a family member has died. What is remarkable is the profound effect the Pope's death has had on non-Catholics, a testament to his ability to unify and spread his message of goodwill worldwide.
For most of us here at Tufts, this is the only Pope we've ever known. We expect Popes to frequently travel abroad and be available to the public. Over the past 26 years, John Paul II transformed the papal office into an accessible and press-friendly face of the church. Instead of sitting in the Vatican as his predecessors did, John Paul II traveled to over 120 nations, including those that did not have large Catholic communities. He celebrated mass with millions at a time, and paid particular attention to the world's youth. Many young Catholics feel a strong connection to this Pope because of this dedication - witness the rock-star style greetings he was given on trips - making the transition to a new pontiff even more difficult.
This is not to say that John Paul II had a perfect papacy. He left a Church divided, especially in North America and Western Europe. The sex-abuse scandal has not yet been resolved, although the Vatican has done little to address it, other than moving priests to other parishes, or giving them haven in Rome. The scandal has done little to help the severe shortage of priests. Church attendance has dwindled, particularly because many found the Pope's policies on birth control, abortion and divorce too conservative and out of touch with the realities of modern life.
This is in stark contrast to the developing world, where the Church is flourishing. John Paul II shifted the Church's focus from Europe (Italy in particular) towards Latin America and Africa. Now, there is talk of the next Pope coming from one of these regions. Latin American cardinals, along with those from Spain and Portugal, make up the largest contingency in the College of Cardinals, of whom all but three were appointed by John Paul II. It's as if he moved the Church towards parts of the world where he knew his conservative approach would be popular.
The Pope should have done more to rehabilitate the Church in the eyes of jaded Americans, but in this way he was not a political character. He had strong moral convictions and felt that upholding them was part of his duty to lead the Church. John Paul II did manage to create a strong connection between the Vatican and the United States on his five trips to the country during his papacy. Despite the gulf of opinion between liberal Catholics and the Pope, he ultimately wanted to create unity under Christ's love that superseded political opinions.
This is not to say that John Paul II stayed out of politics entirely. He came to office at the height of the Cold War, and put considerable effort into supporting democratic movements in his native Poland and elsewhere. Pundits have credited him, former U.S. President Ronald Regan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for bringing down the Iron Curtain. The Pope showed us the power religion can have on the global stage, especially when helping to topple autocratic regimes.
Despite all his faults, Pope John Paul II should be remembered as a pontiff who extended a hand to the whole world, bringing a message of peace to people of all faiths. The next Pope should emulate John Paul II's pastoral exercises, continuing to travel and being accessible to the public. Although it is impossible to guess who the next Pope will be, a pontiff from the third-world would be a good way to illustrate John Paul II's desire to make the Church more global and reflect the needs of its members.
