On the 2013 Conclave

As a religious man, I earnestly believe in the intervention of the Holy Spirit in the choice of a Pope. As such, I must trust that choice to be the right one. John Paul II came into the headship of the Church exactly when he was needed and none can dispute his charisma and his devotion to both the Faith and the humanitarian cause of the Church. Likewise, Benedict XVI came when he was necessary. He furthered the dialogue within Christian denominations and between Christianity and other religions. He reasserted that our Faith is as it should be and he bolstered the foundations of the Church in the revealed Truth. He also corresponded to the world’s expectations when a strong hand was needed within the Church to correct wrongdoings. I, for one, have no complaints about how much Benedict XVI accomplished in his brief leadership of the Church. One can only hope the next Pope is as excellent as his two most recent predecessors.

The media goes on and on about who the likelier next pope could be. Yet, they seem to be pursuing secular criteria based on the assumption that the Church's sole objective is to gain popularity, as if spirituality were a market with religions competing for market share. Some even go to lengths developing the ludicrous idea of a “more progressive pope” and a “more democratic” Catholic Church. Again, these are worldly concerns that are not congruent with the central mission of the Church (or any serious religion, for that matter). Pity there are so few who understand this. Though there is certainly a desire to reach out and communicate with modern society, it has to be said that the Catholic Faith will not adapt to the times in the way that is coveted by the Church’s most stalwart critics. By nature and precept, it cannot. What’s more, not even a pope has the autonomy to do it. Try to think of it this way: the Truth that has been revealed and that is guarded by the Church addresses human nature, and human nature is not as mutable as is social convenience or politics. Even after thousands of years of history, social and technological progress, in the end, we remain human. Likewise, the Catholic Church must remain loyal to the Catholic Faith. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/11/next-pope-contenders-vatican-job

On Pope Benedict's Resignation

Contrary to what's overtly on the media, the selection of a new Pope will not likely hang on the criterion of "who's likelier to gain most sympathy and adepts". That may have a bearing, as it is the Church's mission to teach and to spread the Gospels. Yet it is also the Church's mission to safeguard the Truth that has been entrusted to it. Sometimes people forget that the Catholic Church is not about a popularity contest. Though the Church is indeed an institution with secular aspects, its mission is not. The Catholic Church isn't a franchise, my religion isn't a product and the Pope is not God's ombudsman. Though "customer satisfaction" is desirable, we do not place our values on sale to acquire market share, we do not upgrade dogma, we do not modernise our morals and we do not customise precepts. We also don't really recognise "direct competition". Yet, if you don't like our policies, we do accept your right to contact the CEO directly. As for Pope Benedict's renouncing the papacy, I see it as another very sober and courageous act by a very sober and courageous Pope, who did never back down from his solemn obligations with the Faith, the Church and the World. http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2013/02/an-evangelical-looks-at-pope-benedict-xvi