From the Mind of Michael : The Pope

From the Mind of Michael is a series of thoughts and observations from Michael, one of the Youth Group Leaders.  The views and opinions expressed here are solely that of Michael McCracken, and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Loving Grace Alliance Church, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, or any one else for that matter.

I just read that Pope Benedict XVI will be stepping down from the Papacy at the end of the month.  This brings to mind thoughts about the Pope and Roman Catholicism.

To begin with, I wish Pope Benedict XVI all the best.  I pray his health improves, and I know he will continue to do God's work in whatever capacity he is able to do so until the Lord calls him home.  I have the utmost respect for the Pope and Roman Catholicism.  My prayers are with him and all Catholics.

Though I'm not Roman Catholic (and never was), I do like a lot of what the Papacy and Roman Catholicism stands for.  Several of my good friends in high school are or became Catholic.  It was through them I learned about bishops and cardinals and the pope.  When I was in grade school and most of college, the pope was Pope John Paul II.  All of my Catholic friends spoke highly of him.

I remember one summer several of them made a trip up to Canada to see him speak one time.  It might have been back-to-back summers, but that's not the point.  The point being that while I was growing up, the Pope I knew was a well liked and well respected individual.

So it surprised me greatly when Pope Benedict XVI was elected with less than jubilant fanfare.  I had thought that after such a positive previous Pope, that people would respect the position of the Papacy and what the individual stood for.  Instead, there were demeaning remarks and rude comparisons.  There was one image that likened Pope Benedict XVI to Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars.  (That's a bit more than extreme by my standards.)

So, as the next Pope will be elected in Vatican City (which is the smallest sovereign country in the world), I pray that the next Pope has a much warmer reception.  I pray that the Vatican is able to enact God's will in electing the next Pope.  I pray that the next Pope is a Godly man, and someone who holds up the virtues and principles of the Bible.

God bless and God speed.

-Michael