Go to contents

Socialist Pope, Mixing Estimation

Posted October. 15, 2003 22:54,   

한국어

Pope John Paul II, 83, celebrates the 25th anniversary of his election to the papacy today.

However, with continuing concerns over his ill condition, the world is buzzing over the future of the Catholic Church and his successor, rather than being jubilant on his anniversary.

Socialist Pope?

John Paul II is known for his contribution on popularizing Catholicism as playing a leading role in making it easy for the public to access it. Such reputation however, has led to an assassination attempt against the Pope in Sate Peter Square in 1981.

Despite his personal history fighting against Socialist states, he has been called a “Socialist Pope” due to his leading role in works for human dignity, religious freedom, and labor rights.

In fact, he has also been criticized as a culprit of causing conflicts within Catholicism, by delivering speeches in Christian churches and Islam Monasteries, in an attempt to bring harmony among religious groups.

Against abortion, contraception and pre-marriage intercourse, the Pope has stuck to traditional value of family and has carried out indomitable struggles. He even opposed the ordination of women to priesthood. While stressing the Church’s disciplinary rules, he established the Department of Catholic Teaching, which was devoted to teaching traditional disciplinary of Catholicism.

Some progressive churchmen living in advanced countries condemned the Pope thinking, “He wields power too much.” Such conservative attitude will lead followers to leave the church.” In response, the Pope rebuked, “Catholic teachings should not be contingent upon people’s opinions.”

Considering the fact that Pope John Paul II selected 95 percent of the electoral colleges for the next papal election and is highly expected to being deified as a saint, Catholic society is unlikely to escape from his control even after his demise.

Next Pope?

The Pope has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease and arthritis for years. On top of that, it has been heard recently that he has a kidney stone. However, the Vatican keeps responding, “Even though there are some concerns over his ill condition, we have no mention about him stepping down.”

There are no such articles in the Catholic Church’s code saying that when it becomes impossible for the Pope to carry out his performance properly, he can be replaced. Only when he is mentally and physically unhealthy can he be substituted, if he is regarded as being incapable of doing his job.

The outline for the next Pope can be clear in the Consistory held on October 21. 135 Cardinals have the rights to vote for the next papal election. Among them, Europeans accounts for 49 percent, North Americans 10 percent, Mid-South Americans 18 percent, Asians and Oceania 13 percent and Africans 10 percent.

Some supports go back a traditional way, in which only Italians are elected as the Pope; Pope John Paul II however, was the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.



havefun@donga.com