Sunflower Seeds

 

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

Sunflower Seeds

Celebrating Everyday Spirituality

What Would You Like to Say to the Next Pope?

The recent resignation of Pope Benedict XVI certainly surprised the world. After all, no pope has resigned in about 600 years. Citing his age and health, the Holy Father said he could no longer perform his duties as pope. I give the man credit. Most popes stayed in office until their death. Benedict’s decision says it’s perfectly okay—in fact, it can be good—to let go of major responsibilities, to retire, to hand over the reins to someone else.

Soon we will have a new pope. I was thinking, what would I say to the new pope if I had the chance? I came up with many things. Here are a few of them:

Thank you. Thank you for saying “yes” to this unique and demanding ministry of leadership. As Jesus himself said, leadership among his disciples is essentially service. Remember how, at the Last Supper, before he washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus tied that towel around his waist? That towel was a makeshift apron! Maybe you could add an apron to your wardrobe as a sign of your service to us, the Church.

I’m praying for you. I mean it. Every day. It might not seem like much that you have me praying for you, but it is. Just multiply my teensy prayer by a billion—because that’s how many Catholics there are in the world. Then add a few million more good people of other faiths who will also be praying for you. Now that’s significant!

Stay close to Jesus. I know it sounds trite, but really ask yourself every day, “What would Jesus do? What would Jesus see? What would Jesus think? What would Jesus say?”

Remember us. Go outside that wall that encloses the Vatican. Like your predecessors, visit the world. And don’t just talk at people; talk with them. Everywhere you go, slip incognito into a church and sit with the local congregation during Mass. Remember, it is from the pew (or chair, or bench, or rock, or ground) that the vast majority of us see our church leaders and experience a worshiping community.

Have good women friends. I hope you have (or had) a good mother. I hope you have at least one sister and sister-in-law, some nieces, and (most importantly) some good women friends. Your celibacy and the all-male hierarchy present challenges to your development of a broad and balanced vision of life that includes a healthy dose of the feminine perspective.

Make time to play with children. Jesus did.

Volunteer regularly. At a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, an inner-city school, a nursing home, a prison, a refugee camp, a hospital, hospice, or wherever individuals are in serious need.

Stay human. Do those things that keep you human: cook occasionally, wash your own clothes, make your own bed, read the comics, listen to opera or jazz or whatever, play chess or Scrabble or whatever, tend a garden, get a dog or cat or canary, balance your own personal check book, go to a movie, haggle over prices at an outdoor market, browse in a book store, cheer madly for a sports team, take the pope-mobile in for an oil change, host a barbecue in your backyard and do the grilling (you can wear your apron!)

Venerate our Tradition. Be open to change. This is one of your greatest challenges you face as pope. I can’t tell you how to achieve this balance, but all the previous suggestions should help you!  And don’t forget, Holy Father, I’m praying for you.

Is there anything you would like to say to the next pope?

15 Responses

  1. What a clear way to put it! Being human would mean being relevant.
    Thank you for this unique perspective on being pope.

  2. Melannie,

    As always, well said! Perhaps these words of wisdom can be forwarded to all the cardinals who will be taking an active part in the election; they would serve as a wonderful guide in choosing the right person for this important leadership position.

  3. All marks of a true leader, often forgotten in the rush to make sure that he measures up to someone’s idea of what should be expected from the pope as described by tradition alone. As one who comes from the people, he needs to be among those he serves. Otherwise, true service is virtually impossible. I would add that it would be good if he could have a good sense of humor as well.

  4. I couldn’t have said it better myself!
    I might add just one more thing along with your “venerate our tradition, be open to change”. Truly being “open the Holy Spirit” I believe means many times having to look “outside the box” for an answer or solution. If we truly are open to the Spirit, we may have to listen to the voices of the people in the pews and how they view our Church and how it can best meet their needs. It may be that it’s time to re-think celibacy, or church attendance. Just because it’s always been that way doesn’t mean it will always work that way. If we are “stuck in our ways”, then are we truly being open to the Spirit? Many times the Spirit is speaking, but because it may not be what we want to hear, we stop listening, or dismiss it out of hand.
    God Bless the next pope!

  5. Melannie…. so beautifully said. I could just hear you saying this in person if you had the chance. Wonderful and inspiring words of wisdom from a wise person. Thank you for taking the leap and risk to put it all in words.

  6. I really liked the one about having some women friends. We need to help men, and especially clergy to get in touch with their feminine side of self.

  7. Melannie,

    Thank you for your reflections! I too like your suggestion about having women friends and getting in touch with the feminine. It goes right along (in my mind and experience) with Chris’s comment about openness to the Holy Spirit. Fear of the feminine, which is often coupled with fear of the movement of the Holy Spirit, has impaired our Church’s growth in countless ways. God bless Benedict, the cardinals, and the soon-to-be new pope! May the Spirit truly be allowed to guide this process!

  8. Sr. Melanie,
    Loved your ‘suggestions’ to whomever will be our new Pope. I think you need to mail them to the Vatican!
    Thank you.

  9. Sr. Melannie,

    Wonderful advice for our new Pope…and for us all. I must say I am so thrilled to share my prayer time with you every morning especially in the March issue of Living with Christ as Today’s Good News is written by you each day. Thank you.

  10. Once again you wrote something so meaningful. I suggest you send this by Certified Mail to the Vatican, Attn: Pope Francis.
    B

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Hi and welcome to my blog! I’m Sister Melannie, a Sister of Notre Dame residing in Chardon, Ohio, USA. I’ve been very lucky! I was raised in a loving family on a small farm in northeast Ohio. I also entered the SNDs right after high school. Over the years, my ministries have included high school and college teaching, novice director, congregational leadership, spiritual direction, retreat facilitating, and writing. I hope you enjoy “Sunflower Seeds” and will consider subscribing below. I’d love to have you in our “sunflower community.” Thank you!

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