– A Benign Papacy?

A kinder, gentler pope?
James M. Weiss The Boston Globe

Benedict XVI has been pope for a year now, and many Catholics who had expected profound changes have been wondering, when will they come?

Indeed, the new pope has kept a fairly low profile. Most of his first-year agenda was already set by John Paul II: World Youth Day, the international meeting of bishops last autumn, a decree barring homosexuals from the priesthood, even the encyclical about love were all already in the works. Benedict finished John Paul's commitments, though it is true he often influenced them as well.

Yet if much of Benedict's program was set in advance, his style has been a major surprise. He has not lowered the boom. He has not cracked down on persons or trends in the church. On numerous occasions when he could have denounced modern trends, he conspicuously did not. In fact, some Catholic conservatives voice dismay over the "kinder, gentler" Benedict.

Benedict's way of being pope points to the office, not the personality. John Paul acted as pastor of the planet. Benedict acts as self-effacing steward of a tradition. He doesn't see history culminating in his own significance, as John Paul did. He desires more consultation with cardinals and bishops.

For many, his modest personality makes the Gospel easier to absorb than the dramatic, autocratic John Paul did.

Benedict's restraint showed up in four compelling moments. First, when his encyclical on love was announced, one critic asked, "What will he condemn this time?" Yet Benedict passed over anticipated hot- button issues and warmly praised sexual love as part of God's plan.

Second, his major address on World Youth Day encouraged young people to attend church and receive Communion, but never denounced youth culture, as some had expected.

Third, the decree against homosexual seminarians appeared with a tempered authority, leaving local bishops some discretionary power in applying it.

Fourth, when Benedict appointed an American to fill his previous post as watchdog of doctrine, he chose a notably milder, more flexible, less confrontational figure than he himself had been.

Reviewing the past year, three themes and three events stake out Benedict's probable legacy. The first is a key to guide church affairs. In a major speech, he declared that reforms of Vatican II flow in continuity with church tradition; they do not break from it. This foretells continued obstacles to innovation, experimentation and even women's roles in the church.

Second, Benedict praises freedom - not as individualism, but as capacity to accept clear truth.

Third, he says the church should not engage in political affairs but only seek to influence them. Some find this puzzling, others hypocritical, but it seems to allow church officials to have it both ways.

Benedict began by streamlining church bureaucracy, shrinking the size of the Vatican administration and appointing specialists, not career churchmen, to offices. He tends to rise above the fray, leaving tough action to others. On issues such as parish closings, clergy sexual abuse and the bishops' delinquency in handling it, the Vatican has let local authorities sweat out their own decisions. If frustrating at times, a less centralized church may be something many Catholics prefer.

While Benedict will most probably not change his or John Paul's core positions, his calling as pope reflects his earlier calling as a teacher. Teaching relies on patience and slow progress rather than instant clarity and compliance. The surprises of his first year may signal a pope of some paradox after all.

(James M. Weiss, associate professor of church history at Boston College, is a specialist on the modern papacy and College of Cardinals. This article first appeared in The Boston Globe)
BOSTON