The president escorts the pope to the Oval Office: image by Doug Mills/The New York Times
Pope Benedict and President Bush had 45 minutes together to talk.
I'd like to have 45 minutes with the pope! I wonder what it's like when the presidential and papal aides leave the room and it's just you and the pope. Who goes first? Do world leaders have hand book that advises on such niceties?
What did these two men speak of? And more importantly, how did they listen to each other? I wouldn't for a moment deny the political agenda at work in the president's warmly welcoming the pope to the US but I also believe that Bush respects the pope and what he stands for - even in their disagreements.
Certainly, the two of them must have spoken about war and peace. They have very different views of how to achieve peace and each sits down as firmly convinced as the other that his is the right stand on the issues. Did the president try to understand the pope's plea for diplomatic resolutions of what divides and scars the nations of the world? Did the pope give a fair hearing to the president's position as commander in chief of the world's most powerful nation?
Is it too much to hope that the president's thinking might at least be colored, influenced - in some small ways changed - on account of those 45 minutes in the Oval Office?
It's amazing to consider how much authority and jurisdiction is placed in these two men - how influential and far ranging can be their thoughts, opinions and decisions.
The pope and I would be on the same page on many issues, certainly on the war. But if I had 45 minutes with the pope (heck, I'd take 15 minutes if I could get them), I'd want two things to happen. First, I'd want time to tell the pope how much wider the doors of the Church need to open both to those who have never been within the household of faith and to those who once found a home there but now, for one or many reasons, find themselves estranged, homeless and disconnected from the Body of Christ. Second, I'd really try to make sure there was time for the Vicar of Christ to tell me how my ministry might better mirror and make present both the comfort and the challenge of the gospel for people hungry for its substance.
Well, it occurs to me now that were I to meet with the pope, I wouldn't need a world leader's handbook to know who would go first! So, I'd hope that after sharing his wisdom, he'd make time to hear me out on my concerns.
If you had 45 minutes to sit and chat with the pope, what would you want to say to him? what would you want to hear from him?
-ConcordPastor
This just in!
Here's the joint statement of the pope and president summarizing their conversation in the Oval Office. (I just hope their time together was a little more interesting than this statement is willing to reveal!)
I think I might ask him why he won't meet with the victims.
ReplyDeleteI think I might ask him why, if you are not straight, you are not welcomed into the Catholic church.
I think I might ask him why he gave Cardinal Law such a cushy job in Rome.
I don't think I'd be at a loss of words with the amount of questions I'd have.
I think I'll skip listing what I might say to him and instead comment that there are probably notebooks full of protocol sheets that are used by a slew of special assistants assigned to each of those men. There are people who make a living off of reminding folks who is to speak first and which fork to use. Although, being an Episcopalian, I have NO business criticizing those who feel strongly about such matters! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOrder is useful, but there are people starving, on many levels.