There’s a profound level of relief I feel writing these words: I was wrong. Following Pope Benedict’s resignation in February 2013, the Papacy was an easy target. I was wrong when, in the aftermath of Pope Francis’ election as Pope, I came down hard on both the Church and its Papacy.
Scandal swirled in a constant news feed on the decades-long Vatican involvement protecting priests who had sexually abused children. The lawsuits are still ongoing diocese to diocese, and these charges come from across the globe. I came down hard on the new Pope for not only the Catholic Church’s criminal complicity of silence on the acts of its priests, but the Church’s centuries-long role in the oppression of women — from denying them priesthood to its current, rigid stand on female reproductive freedom.
But with over two years under his Papal chasuble, Pope Francis the First is forcing me to re-think and refine my hard line against the Vatican.
Like the American Presidency, the Papacy carries with it the weight of history’s bloodiest baggage. These powerful offices have networks so vast and capable of such great cruelty that they far exceed the individual goodness of the men who hold the position. And these institutions are both hard, if not impossible, to change overnight.
Pope Francis’ Papacy is attempting to gain footing in a fast-changing world, while managing a vast group of Catholics, from the most radical to the most staunchly conservative in his flock. There is still much work for the Church to get the hell out of the culture wars plaguing us, including birth control, in which the Church still plays antagonist. But even early on Francis’ Papacy, the signs have been encouraging that it’s coming to grips with the real issues, as described in this Huffington Post article from 2014:
Still, the idea that the Vatican in some forum, even an advisory one, is pondering the question of planetary limits is, to put it mildly, encouraging. If the Catholic Church, under the leadership of Pope Francis, takes the view that we are stewards of God’s earth and that we have a responsibility to maintain this planet for future generations, it is not a big leap to conclude that couples should consider having smaller families. And from there it is not a huge leap to conclude that women should have access to modern methods of birth control in planning their families.
Pope Francis is facing the world, embracing his role as a moral compass and peacemaker. A good priest in the role of lightening rod, he’s had a good start: speaking critically on global income inequality; and brokering the conversations that led to the warming of U.S.-Cuba relations. The Pope’s position on climate change is having an impact on American politics.
Using his pulpit to stand for people in nations most vulnerable to the drastic climate changes experienced this last decade, he gives moral weight to the argument that has, up to now, only been the realm of scientists and skeptics. The Pope will address the United Nations later this year on the subject. That alone is causing agita amongst conservative Catholics and their banner man, the anti-gay, pro-life Republican Rick Santorum — who is running for President in 2016.
If an international majority of scientists and their solid evidence cannot penetrate the boneheaded anti-science stupidity of people trying to re-write laws and gut environmental protection for profit, perhaps a man of God in one of the most visible offices in the world pleading for the sake of humanity could.
The Papacy is the pulpit Francis uses as the iconic standard for Christian morality. That makes his positions on income inequality and climate change all the more difficult and dangerous for those who have the most to gain from both. I credit this to the Pope’s Sagittarian nature and years of practice in liberation theology in Latin America, a continent that has had more than its share of greedy despots and tyrants, most of whom were put into position by the U.S.
Even as the U.S. is struggling to maintain a secular government in the face of its Christian conservative majority in Congress, and although the Pope may not be in the best position yet to influence U.S. politicians and the money behind them, his reach is far deeper than our politics. He hits home with the millions of Catholics around the world.
That is why, at this moment in time, and borrowing from the title of Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth, Pope Francis is a most inconvenient man. The opinions expressed by God’s priest on earth are dangerous to the status quo killing the planet.
So if I judged Pope Francis I too harshly, I take it back. For as much as I have to argue with the Church on their various stands in the culture wars that divide us, I feel good saying I was wrong in doubting this man’s largeness of thought. It seems to be having an effect. His words and his actions are not inconvenient. They are coming at just the right time.
Admirable Fe, cutting the Pope some slack out here in front of God and everybody; admitting first impressions can be wrong isn’t easy. Anyone whose been in the battle for justice, as you have, will have a defense build-up after so long a time. I admire the new-ish Pope too although as you say “institutions are hard if not impossible to change overnight.”
Pope Francis has his Saturn (institutions) in Pisces (dissolution) where Chiron transited not long ago and where Neptune will arrive in the not too distant future (2018). As God and the Universe would have it, Pope Francis has his Neptune (spiritual IQ) in Virgo (healing and helping) opposite his natal Saturn in Pisces. Oppositions encourage a balance between polarities and with rock-solid Saturn in spiritual Pisces opposite shape-shifting Neptune in earthy Virgo, he has developed a talent over decades that defies natural law. It has provided him the broad views he has that are uncommon in his profession.
Transiting Jupiter will conjunct the Pope’s natal Neptune in late October this year and oppose his natal Saturn in November. This will repeat through July 2016 as Jupiter stations retrograde and then moves forward again. By that time, transiting Neptune will have spent many weeks in a sextile to the Pope’s natal Mercury in Capricorn. I would imagine he will furnish you with much new material to provide us another look at this Inconvenient Pope. (love that title!)
be
B:
Its his address to the UN (not Congress as I originally wrote), that will be of great interest. I believe its happening in September. Let’s hope the stars align on his message.
I’ve always hoped the name he chose might be a clue.
His chart is awesome; Sag Sun conj. Jupiter in the 6th; Aquarius Moon conj. Venus in the 7th; Uranus conj. MC, and Cancer rising. A natal Ur/Pl square with natal Pluto in his 1st house – and Transiting Pluto hovered over his natal Mercury ( conjunct descendant) throughout his first year in office. “No, to the new idolatry of money. No to a financial system that rules rather than serves.” (Wrote an astrological study for a mainstream columnist, so cannot publish under my own name, alas… ) The dude has chops. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76BtP1GInlc
Sarah V.
The video is fabulous! Thanks for the chart synopsis. You can feel his revolutionary spirit from the start. A refreshing change from centuries of corruption.
The People’s Pope, Russel Brand and Bernie Sanders all have key natal placements directly stimulated by transiting conjunction by the Uranus/Pluto triggers. Francis effing rocks, plus he was a competitive Tango dancer. <3
You know Fe – I love Pope Francis – but you may not have been too quick to judge him harshly. The more cynical (but pretty on-the-ball, and getting on in years) Italian friends of mine believe that he has been put there deliberately because something had to be done to restore all the damage that had been done to the Vatican by the scandals of recents years. There’s so much power involved – that one can never be too sure of what’s really going on behind the scenes.
I admire you for writing this piece and providing the link to the previous one.
In the meantime – here’s a great speech the Pope made at the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN last week:
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-s-address-to-fao
“The more cynical (but pretty on-the-ball, and getting on in years) Italian friends of mine believe that he has been put there deliberately because something had to be done to restore all the damage that had been done to the Vatican by the scandals of recents years. There’s so much power involved – that one can never be too sure of what’s really going on behind the scenes.”
Lizzy (& Fe) — this is the vague sense I’m still grappling with in the background. Yes, I adore Pope Francis’ outspokenness on these truly important issues of social justice. But part of me has been amazed that he has lasted as long as he has. The idea that the Church needs to give him more time for their image restoration makes sense to me.
I’m hoping, dearly, that perhaps those darker “powers that be” have overestimated their ability to let this bright light through and then clamp down again. I very much want to see that — oops! — he actually gets enough traction with the massive Catholic populace to shift hearts and minds enough that the old inner walls begin to crumble (or dissolve, to borrow be’s term). And once that process is well underway, it will simply be too late for the powers that be in the Vatican to go back to business as usual. At least, to their previous degree.
This is the vision I am happy to hold. But I’m not ready to think the Vatican is on its way out without some serious pushes for reversal. That could get pretty ugly.
Amanda:
Your concerns are quite valid. There was a Pope who had a short stay back in the 1980s (before John Paul2) who many believe was assassinated because he was going to investigate massive embezzlement schemes at the Vatican Bank. Coppola made reference to this in the under-popular “Godfather 3.” Let us continue to send good vibes to let this Pope do the work he’s intended to do.
Exactly, Fe. I certainly did not want to be a wet blanket! But I just don’t trust the Catholic Church as an institution, or at its highest levels of power. Pope Francis, I think, is overall a decent guy.
Interesting to read your comments, Amanda and Fe. Was thinking about the fact that not so long ago, during one of his talks – Pope Francis came out with this rather enigmatic phrase, that in a few years he might not be around any more. There was much speculation about his words – was it because he too would resign? Did he mean that he wouldn’t live for much longer? But no one was able to come up with a valid answer.
Well, he’s not exactly a 22-year old… 😉 Could be that he’s simply wise in his awareness of mortality!
Yes, indeed…
Ha ha! Didn’t know about the tango dancing. Sara! What a man…..
Here we go from Market Watch (hat tip to accumbens at Daily Kos)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/no-1-reason-popes-climate-encyclical-scares-gop-big-oil-far-right-and-super-rich-2015-06-13
Excerpts:
Thanks for this, Fe.
Wow, the 18th! That’s when the transiting Sun opposes the GC (2 degrees from his natal Sun)! Transiting Uranus will be opposite the Pope’s natal Mars in Libra and transiting Jupiter will be sextile his Mars. Transiting Ceres will be conjunct his Venus and transiting Chiron is 1 degree past being conjunct his natal Chiron and getting ready to go back there. The Pope has natal Eris (discord) at 2+ Aries quincunx (adjusting) to his natal Hidalgo (revolutionary) at 2+ Scorpio and transiting Pholus (small cause big effect) is conjunct the Pope’s north node (path forward) at 24+ Sagittarius. You go Pope Francis!
Thanks for the heads up Fe, and to all the commenters, thanks for your comments too.
be
Baby and bath water.. Would we be so incredulous of an institution (which by all rights deserves dissolution) that we forsake the message of one being with an otherwise decent perspective?
Like any Good book, it’s a choose your own adventure series. Twists and turns, personal decisions, awareness.. these belong to us. The script is incomplete, and far from being known.
We ride on a crest of a wave of humanity.. I choose to collect the wisdom, and maintain through the turbulence, that one day enlightenment will be common attire, and fear and mistrust will have been worn to the dust.
I don’t have faith, just an ear for decency.
Love you Fe and all,
Jere
Beautiful words, Jere. Living in the eternal city, and with a couple of friends who are staunch Catholics, while others are left-wing ,anti-Catholics – it’s been good to read all your views and thrash this out here. Yes – thanks Fe. Take good care of yourself.
I was sold on this pope after reading a long-form article about him in The Rolling Stone. I think your perception of the complexity of his position is spot-on.
I’ve always felt that Jesus wouldn’t recognise the Christian (nee Catholic) church if he returned to Earth today. As a cynic, I cannot but agree that the present Pope’s appointment seems aimed at recovering the ground lost to the church through clergy who loved their young flock too closely and too dearly.
As a gay man, I feel equally cynical of the legalisation of gay marriage in countries such as my own (England). Is it not just a ploy to get people to declare their homosexuality in matrimonial bondage so that an incoming fascist government can have a ready death list for their gas chambers?
Given that, it is nevertheless refreshing to consider the work that Pope Francis has undertaken. It was Jesus who overthrew the moneylenders’ tables, those precursors of our modern-day capitalists, whose “work” involved no more than currency exchange minus 10 per cent (or so).
Here’s an article from today’s Common Dreams which I hope you will find relevant, Fe.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/06/17/why-we-fight-living-world-its-about-love-and-its-time-we-said-so
Good fortune be with you and with all of us. It’s well past time we took love as the exchange rate on our voyage on Planet Earth, rather than the value we little economic units represent to those who, through birth, inheritance and endeavour, seem to have come to own so much of our planet and all those who live on it.
Geoff Marsh:
The article you posted touched my heart, and I think you’ve hit on something profound. The battle for the preservation of the earth cannot just be intellectual. It must also be spiritual with profound belief and heartfelt. We need to re-balance the technological world and all its wonders and monsters and become more on the side with She, the Planet, our Mother. It makes sense, directly and cyclically. May this be so.
Many thanks, Fe. I do so agree that we have lost respect for Mother Earth in our adolescent journey into the grown-up world of techno-wonderland.
In time, hopefully, we will grow wiser and realise what a wonderful, generous and perfect mother she has been for us and respect her accordingly.
Can anyone honestly say they have seen a building as beautiful as a mountain?
Here we go. The legs on the story keep moving:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/world/europe/pope-francis-in-sweeping-encyclical-calls-for-swift-action-on-climate-change.html?_r=0
Love your comment, Geoff!
Thanks for he links, Geoff and Fe. Hope to catch up soon – but think I’ll give my eyes a rest now…
Cheers, Lizzy. I hope everything continues to improve for you.
Many thanks, dear Geoff. Finding myself having to face old stuff again these days – but am definitely in a better place. As I imagine/hope you are. Take good care of yourself. xxx