Pope Francis: Politician or Pope?

By Adrienn Keszei

NEW YORK, Sept. 28 - The Pope’s recent visit has generated a lot of discussion about the relevance of his title and moral authority. The origins of the papacy go back about 2000 years - if we consider Peter the Apostle to be the first pope - and it has been frequently questioned whether or not popes should have a say in world politics. The Catholic Church has the single largest religious body, and the number of Christians alone proves that the papacy is still a very relevant institution. But does that mean he should also be able to influence politics? According to a mini-survey conducted out and about in Manhattan, people have strong opinions about the pope’s role, and they do not necessarily approve of his efforts to bring about change employing his moral authority.

“Because of his global position, he has a very widely accepted, respected and valued opinion”, Elizabeth Trocchia said. “It depends on what he is discussing, but I think that he has more of a sway than he should sometimes”

The Vatican’s role in history and the notorious corruption of the Holy See during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance give the pope something of a steep hill to climb. Popes have had tremendous influence in European politics, but since losing its sway with the Reformation, the institution has had a hard time re-establishing its moral authority in a part of the world that has become increasingly  disenchanted with religion. Of course devout Catholics will always support the Vatican and political leaders have a generally good relationship with the pope; from time to time, however, when a pope proposes new ideas or has agendas that could interfere with politics, his role in the world’s political scene is heavily questioned by the public.

“I think the pope can be much more influential than politicians because there are a lot more religious people than politically active people, so many more people will listen to the pope than the president for example”, Maya Benain told a reporter. “As bad as it sounds, I feel like popes in general have so much power that they can just brainwash people…figuratively.”

Others attribute less influence to the institution of the papacy. “I think he has a political role similar to that of the queen in the UK, “claimed Niki Foth. “He can motivate those who support the church, but he cannot make decisions”.

Pope Francis, probably the most progressive pope ever to head the Church of Rome, established a surprisingly modern attitude about LGBT rights and the issue of abortion. This augments pleas that seem more in keeping with his predecessors – an appeal for a peaceful solution to the war in Syria, for instance, and his recent warning that Europe faces the threat of terrorist recruiters passing as migrants, or his call for urgent action on climate change. He is clearly becoming involved in social, political, and economic issues worldwide to a greater extent than his modern predecessors.

Precisely because of his progressive attitude and style, both liberals and conservatives may find particular arguments of the pope appealing, especially if those are perfectly aligned with someone’s political agenda. When Pope Francis addressed the United Nations last Friday, his main concern was environmental action, but also the potential harm done by those trying to work towards sustainability. He warned the General Assembly to consider how the fight against climate change could cause further suffering to the poor. Whether or not this distinguished group of political leaders will actually listen to him remains unclear.

Jeff Goad, who braved a 40-minute ferry station and street lockdown due to President Obama’s arrival at the General Assembly, said he believes the pope may be able to influence issues that are out of his reach. “Yes, I believe the opinions are relevant, he’s the leader of the world’s largest religion and lots of people listen to him because he’s powerful and important. Whether or not I feel like he should be a moral authority, popes end up building a lot of political power; they are religious leaders who have tremendous sway.”

“I find it kind of odd that although he is not supposed to be a political figure, people would look to him for his political views, “said Elizabeth Trocchia. Indeed, the popularity of Pope Francis stems from the fact that he is not a political, but a moral figure, and even if he cannot be an active participant in decision making processes about war and peace, people often look to him for moral guidance.

Whether or not we want to accept it, he is transforming the institution of the papacy. Some worry that this change may bring about a Vatican that has too much of an influence. Granted, he is not a politician—although the Vatican has a governing body and is a sovereign entity recognized by international law—but he is the most politically involved pope the world has seen for a very long time. He is someone whose moral opinion is often highly valued even in secular circles and he can use his moral authority in controversial issues quite brilliantly, Regardless of people’s concerns, however, at the moment the pope does not have much influence in political issues. It has yet to be seen how influential he could become in the future.