Pope Benedict's Splitting Headache

If he's got a few more silver hairs, who would notice in that already precious-metalled scalp? But isn't he a one to continually slip into trouble? What is it about these self-heralding intellectuals anyway? But of course there are academics, experts of all kinds, world-renowned minds, and then there is the pope. None of the others can claim to infallibility, now can they?

The good pope's infallibility has, alas, failed him. Criticism of his lapse of good judgement have come from far and wide, but most disturbingly, from among his very own inner circle. His churchly hierarchy stewing with indignation as the opprobrium brought down on their august institution grows and festers. The mighty have not fallen, merely been momentarily inconvenienced, however.

Pope Benedict's inner circle bristles in his defence. How could he have known, they declare, forming a human shield of protection around God's Shepherd. How? Well, is it but a rumour that the Vatican has intelligence tentacles second to none, around the globe? I think not. "These views were absolutely unacceptable and firmly rejected by the Holy Father", sounds a trifle hollow.

Surely it could not, it would not, have slipped his notice that of those four bishops he sought to bring back into the fold one in particular has distinguished himself in a manner felt to be nastily unsavoury by most sensible and rational people. Mightn't the fact that Bishop Williamson's views have been met with great acclaim by fascist and white supremacist groups have impinged on his consciousness?

Surely so. To heal the rift was seen by him to be of such a great moment that other matters could be sacrificed. And no one would take notice. Like his determined move to beatify Pope Pious XII who so spectacularly failed to assert the Church's view of universal humanity during the Second world War? Like his call to return the old Latin Mass with its prayer for the conversion of the Jews?

His obvious attempts at reversal of the advances made through Vatican II? His clumsy and most inappropriate comments with respect to the Catholic Church's sister religion, that Protestantism is somehow incomplete, lacking, not reflective of a true view of Christianity and the wonder that is God's message to humankind? Oh yes, his little gratuitous barb at Islam as representing historical violence incarnate.

These slight irritations are but that; they will dissipate, and the world will continue to revolve and evolve as destiny and desiderata demand:

"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
They too have their story."

Pope Benedict must learn to clarify meanings, to discern that truth before speaking, and perhaps turn a bit of a deaf ear to the dull and ignorant, even if they do have their own story. Being on good terms with all persons, now, that's a good one, and a precept he should clue embrace enthusiastically. It will restore his placidity, peace and blessedly silence his critics.

And then he can declare to himself, with pride, passion and self-understanding: "no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should; therefore, be at peace with God."