A Rose by Any Other Name

I had the rare privilege to be home on Tuesday when they announced the new pope. But wait! It gets better, my parents, staunch devote Catholics were with me at the time. What are the chances?

I came in and checked e-mail and saw the alert from CNN - white smoke billowed from the Vatican. I hollered at my father and ran to the front, “Turn on the TV, they elected the pope!” As he fumbled with the remote, I grabbed and started pressing switches muttering, “It’s got to be the German.” As I turned to ABC watching them set up the papal balcony my father asked why did I think it was the German.

“He’s the only one they could have possibly agreed on so quickly.” My father nodded his head in agreement, a stunned look on his face. I went on to state how much I hoped they would choose a cardinal from Latin America. My father agreed the German would not be so worldly popular, but it was clear he couldn’t believe he was having the discussion with me. It’s not really been a secret my separation from the church. Yet here I was having a discussion on the current politics. I don’t think he expected me to care.

My mother wandered in as the Cardinal came out to announce Pope Benedict XVI. My father and I looked incredulously, wondering how this was all going to work out. My mother clasped her hands and vowed, “He was chosen by God.” My father and I began commenting on the information from the news.

“Sooner or later they will have to leave the continent.” My father mused. I agreed saying the choice of Latin America would have been so beneficial and progressive. My mother grew agitated. She does not believe in ANYONE questioning the church. “He is the chosen one!” She insisted.

I looked her in the eye and stated “Well I’m glad you can be so certain.” I knew it was combative and not smart, but even at 43 I’m known to act like a child and speak my mind. “Mom, there have been horrible popes who’ve only brought about good because people had to fight to change.” My mother doesn’t like to think or even know about such things. The commentators said choosing his name was perhaps his way of saying he wanted to bring peace since the last Benedict ruled in violent times and he fought for peace.

Ok, isn’t Ratzinger’s rhetoric to stand fast and NOT change? To hold to the old Catholicism? Wasn’t he known as “Cardinal No?”

You know they sell old Houston police cars and the new owners have to remove the markings and all signs of the HPD, but truth is when I see one coming, I know it’s a former cop car.

Pope Benedict XIV stood for the first time and greeted the world. “...the cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in God’s vineyard.”

I don’t mean to be cynical, but my first thought was I’d like to see your face if we’d sell all the antiques and art in your papal wing and feed like two or three developing countries for a year while you live like a simple, humble worker.

He referenced Mary, the mother of God in his first statement and I thought that was appropriate. I felt it was his way of saying, “See, women are important in our church.” Don’t get me wrong, I think Mary was vital and important. Heck she was the only part of that stupid Mel Gibson movie I could appreciate. But the truth is, Mary never had sex, gave birth to the son of God, was subservient and never questioned or caused any flack. That my friends, is the ONLY role the current Catholic administration feels is appropriate for women.

The next morning the pope admitted he had feelings of ‘inadequacy and inner disquiet” and was concerned he was not up to the task. Ok, I go to church like 3 times a year. I merely glance through the religious news in the newspapers. Even I knew the guy had been campaigning for the job for years. Kind of late to pretend you’re not up to it, isn’t it?

Everyone keeps saying, don’t worry, the guy is 78 years old, he can’t be around for too long to do too much damage. Sorry, but I’ve got a neighbor and friend who is 93 years old, can read the newspaper headlines a car length away, can hear a whisper across the room and walks without a cane or aid.

Then there are those people who say give him a chance, sometimes it’s not the man who makes the job, but the job who makes the man. I hope they are right.

Maybe it’s my new vision. I’m seeing an amazing 20/20 these days without glasses or contacts. But I think I know what I see and somehow I feel like I’m parked at the light with that old sky blue cop car idling next to me.