The Vatican Bookie, Journalists, and a Warning About Memes on the Pope

Photo Credit: YouTube

(Last week’s blog had to be written for publication before the election of the Pope. Therefore, Lily got her column in. Today’s post handles history’s momentous papal election.)

Well, I had set up my booth in my little basement office and started taking on a number of people making bets on who would become the next pope. There was no word from the Great Keeper of the Secret Herself: the Holy Spirit. Still, l pictured Her having a grand old time reveling in thoughts like “They think John Paul was a surprise, and Francis was a shock, wait til they see this one!”

Middle-of-the roaders favored Parolin; social justice promoters went with Zuppi and Tagle. This was going to be a photo-finish I thought but of course, we’ll never know. But here we are: An American Pope! Or, as some rightly say, ‘a Pope from the Americas.’ The immense reaction is thrilling worldwide and humorous and enthusiastic in the United States. I love the humor as only Americans can do it: Tiny mitres given to fans at a White Sox game, a White Sox jersey with the name Pope Leo on the back above #14, humorous memes galore like the famous Chicago style pizza renamed Vatican Pizza, or the reference to Leo as ‘Da Pope.’ I confess to not giving then Cardinal Prevost a running chance. American? Not in my lifetime! But I was close with the name choice. ‘Leo’ was my second choice for the name our new pope would choose because, I reasoned, he would want to continue the charism lived through Pope Francis and I remembered from early theology and sociology classes that Leo XIII was the ‘Pope of the Working Man.’ His tenure produced the famous encyclical, Rerum Novarum, in which he argued for human rights in labor leading to the Church’s support of labor unions, humane working environments and just wages. Good choice Pope Leo, very good choice, said I.

Last week I observed Pope Leo speak at his first audience where one thousand international journalists gathered to hear him. As a retired journalism professor and free lance journalist myself, I was mesmerized by his statement, “We are in solidarity with journalists in prison for seeking the truth.” He thanked the journalists, “You have captured our feelings. Dialogue is a needed mission. Let us disarm communication from all that is hateful. Let us be capable of gathering the voices of the weak. Let us listen and choose courageously in favor of peace.” He added, “Never give into mediocrity.” His speech closed to thunderous applause that didn’t end until he came down the steps and moved into the audience greeting leaders of various press corps throughout the world. Our own American Lester Holt of NBC got a long handshake and a fairly long conversation with the smiling Pope. 

Usually professions like medicine, education, government get audiences with a pope but seldom, if ever, do journalists get an audience let alone the first one for a new pope. It goes with the profession: objectivity can never be compromised. But Pope Leo knows that without a free press democracy cannot survive. And he knows that it is ok to encourage writers and analysts of world events who never get this encouragement because they have to be objective in treating all political persuasions so the citizen can do his or her own thinking. This event suggests that Pope Leo will favor truth and peace over lies and war that motivate despots throughout the world in increasing numbers. As one journalist pointed out, the leader of the United States yelled “fight” as he raised his clenched fist after an attempt on his life, but the world leader of the Catholic Church calmly and resolutely gave his first greeting to the crowd in Rome: “Peace.”    

While we are speaking of the media here, I must hasten to add a bit of a warning about memes and narratives attached to both Pope Francis and Pope Leo mostly found on YouTube. One such narrative is told with emotionally wrought descriptions of a dog, belonging to Pope Francis, who was summoned to the pontiff’s death bed to offer comfort. One narrative said the dog’s name was Balthazar, the other called him Esteban. Pope Francis had no dog. The dog’s profile is superimposed on the pope’s hand. There will probably be other narratives of the same story wildly circulating the internet. Another story is about Pope Leo listening to an advisor except the profile of the pope is not Leo, it is Francis. It won’t take you long not to fall for emotionally narrated stories and sloppily crafted pictures presenting false narratives that could make viewers believe untruths about Pope Leo. Think of this as ‘The Enquirer’ found in your local grocery check out line. In fact, there is money to be gained by putting all of this out into the ether!

Reflection

We should all take this time as we get to know Pope Leo, to pray for openness and healing in the Church and the world. He has an immense challenge before him. Every part of his life is now changed. All people of the world are his concern, not just the Catholics. We will not agree with him on everything, but we have to believe his decisions will be made so that we will walk the way of Jesus among all children of a loving God. He is learning how to navigate an almost impossible job. He will rely heavily on prayer, reflective reading and, of course, listening. He will listen to the direction of theologians, advisors, cardinals, and bishops, and most of all—to his people. He will go deeper into his own heart and listen there as well for in that heart the Spirit will speak to him, and he must not be afraid of what he hears.