Spa Tek

Collective Mourning

The Pope is dead, after nearly 27 years as Pontiff a charismatically pious man has moved to be with his Maker. His life brings us all many messages and symbols that we may use to improve the passage of our own lives. This is not a time for mourning or tears, but for reflection. He took this world along many pathways, showing just how much power such a religious leader can still exert despite a declining church audience.

His greatest contribution must be the part he played in the decline of the communist regime. However eastern Europe is still in turmoil, and could so easily fall into lawless hands. Not enough has yet been done to bring true stability to that part of our world.

Communism contained many evils but the current form of capitalism is no sinecure. To resolve inequality the church does need to change direction, to move towards a new political revolution. There is still too much injustice, far too many people starving to death, many of the poorest people in the world are Catholics, living in lands where the power elite, and members of the priesthood, are living in absolute luxury.

There's a dilemma. The Vatican City oozes wealth, pomp and circumstance, while many in South America (for example) die in poverty. These two extremes must be brought together and the drawing together of the haves and have-nots should be the primary task for the next Pope. Leadership by example would be a good way forward, the church has funds with which to experiment with new social systems.

Pope John Paul did what he believed to be important. The next Pope will have a different agenda. Hopefully he will address poverty, over-population and sexual inequality.

posted by Suffolk Notes @ 9:11 am