Pope trip: Getting to Know the Pope

Sister Mary Ann Walsh at the USCCB blog:

One of the best things to come from Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United States will be that people will get to know him.There’s a lack of awareness of who he is for three reasons: He follows Pope John Paul II, who revolutionized the papacy. Before his election, the papacy had basically been a stay-at-home job. When John Paul with his fine stage presence set out globe-trotting, he captured the world’s imagination. With telecommunications, John Paul took the office public as no one before him. His is a hard act to follow.

Pope Benedict’s 24 years in his previous job typecast him. He was prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the church’s faith and morals watchdog. He was arbiter of what was acceptable for theologians to write and teach. His statements were heard worldwide and often drew controversy. When he spoke of revealed truth, he was painted as a man wedded to the past. Despite his kindly nature, he was typecast as stern. Many made up their mind about him even before his election.

He is a scholar and introvert, not given to encourage a cult of the papacy around himself. He comes from the world of academia and of scholarship, where study, writing and thought are prized.

Those who know him think many Americans will come to appreciate him when he journeys across the Atlantic. A recent survey reports he has an 80 percent approval rate. It will be even higher after his visit. [More.]

Sister also points out a very revealing fact: prior to Cardinal Ratzinger's elevation to the papacy, he made it clear that he had no intention of crossing the Atlantic again or even going outside Europe - "doctor's orders."

Now, years later, as Pope Benedict XVI, in addition to numerous pastoral visits within Italy, a pilgrimage to Austria and World Youth Day in Germany, he has travelled to Turkey, undertaken a lengthy visit to Brazil, is now coming to the United States, and will be in Australia this summer for a second World Youth Day. Even a future apostolic journey to China is not outside the realm of possibility!

The pope is coming to us at a great personal expense to himself, out of love for Christ and his Church, and you.

The least we can do is attentively listen to what he has to say.

Sister Mary Ann Walsh, by the way, recently became one of my very favorite people for completely refuting Joe Feuerhard's recent "screed" against the Catholic Bishops. She's very good and knows her stuff.