Pope more than religious leader

Apr 22, 2005

POPE BENEDICT XVI has pledged to promote Christian unity and inter-faith dialogue. The new Pope comes into the world’s most prominent religious seat after succeeding a popular pontiff, John Paul II, who was buried two weeks ago.

POPE BENEDICT XVI has pledged to promote Christian unity and inter-faith dialogue. The new Pope comes into the world’s most prominent religious seat after succeeding a popular pontiff, John Paul II, who was buried two weeks ago.

John Paul will be a particularly hard act to follow, as the warmth of his humanity had great appeal across borders, political ideology and religions.

The outpouring of grief by millions around the globe, and the attendance of the funeral by world leaders of varied background, was testimony to the fact that the Pope is more than just a religious leader.

Indeed John Paul was particularly influential in global geopolitics. His opposition to Communism influenced the subsequent demise of the Soviet bloc and the ending of the Cold War. His hostility to liberation theology did especially undermine the influence of the political left in Latin America.

His concern about hard-nosed capitalism has given a moral stepping-stone to the anti-globalisation lobby. Socially, John Paul II was adamantly opposed to birth control, which influenced views on condom use, and has subsequently left a mixed legacy on the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

It is into this breach that Benedict XVI is stepping. His political instincts are yet to be seen, but his declaration of intent on matters spiritual is especially welcome, as he had, in his previous ministry as a cardinal, been said to be a hardliner on the supremacy of the Catholic faith.

Most of the world’s major religions advocate a relatively uniform moral ideology, and so they could all jointly work towards that.
Christian denominations, their theological and doctrinal differences notwithstanding, still retain the centrality of faith in Jesus Christ, and so the new Pope’s leadership in this will be important.

The world will be watching and waiting to see his views on matters secular. It is everyone’s hope that they will be progressive even within the confines of faith, for the betterment of mankind.

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