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.
