Opinion

The mystery of the Pope's appeal

Friday, April 22, 2005

Despite accounting for "just" one-fifth of the world's population, stories about Catholics and the pope have dominated media coverage the past several weeks.

Much has been written about the events taking place at the Vatican -- yet I'm perplexed. I don't fully understand the ample media coverage. The coverage of the Pope led every radio program, landed at the top of the front page in newspapers and was the lead story on TV news broadcasts for weeks. Even today, after the selection of the new pope, several stories feature the new pope.

Not that I'm complaining. As a Catholic family, we have followed the death of John Paul II, the funeral (I'll admit that I didn't get up at 3 a.m. to watch the event since I've limited 3 a.m. wakings to sick children) and the subsequent selection of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI.

But still, I was amazed at the sheer number of stories about John Paul II, as well as the out-pouring of sympathy across the world.

So, why all the interest in the former and current pope? I took it straight to the authorities at St. Patrick Church in McCook. Father Gary Brethour was unavailable for comment by the time I finally got around to asking about this situation. Fortunately, Assistant Pastor Jerel Scholl took the time to answer a few of my questions.

I must admit that I especially wanted to talk to Fr. Brethour because he -- how to put this delicately -- would more likely remember, because of his age, when John Paul II became the supreme pontiff and whether there was this much hoopla surrounding the event. Whereas Fr. Scholl, like my husband and I, were only seven and six years old, respectively, in 1978. Our memories from 27 years ago revolved around the important matters of the number of recesses at school and staying up past bedtime, not the mere landmark of selecting a new pope.

Fr. Scholl's only memory from the time was a comment from his mother and grandmother of "He'll make a nice pope."

As for the attraction of this story around the world, Fr. Scholl said the Pope brings about an element of truth.

"There's something supernatural happening because of the goodness of John Paul II," he said, as well as his dedication and the mystery surrounding him.

Fr. Scholl told a story about the former pope, a retelling of a story by Lincoln Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz.

During the visit to St. Louis in the late 1990s, John Paul II stayed at the local Bishop's residence. In the middle of the night, the Bishop awoke and discovered the Pope was not in his room. Instead, they found the Pope in the chapel in front of the blessed sacrament -- praying at 4 a.m.

"He was so close to God and that radiates to everyone," Fr. Scholl explained. "That attracts them to him."

While it's beyond my reach to explain the attraction of the Pope, at least we can address a few easier questions about the Pope in today's history lesson.

Why does the pope change his name?

Because he can.

Actually, it's the second question asked by the Cardinal Dean. The first is whether he accepts the canonical election as supreme pontiff.

The practice of changing names on being raised to the papacy seems to have begun Jan. 2, 533 with John II. Looking back, he appears to have had very good reason to do so.

His given name was Mercury, the name of a pagan god, and hardly suitable for a pope, so he adopted the name of the martyred John I instead.

What name may a pope choose?

A pope may choose any name but will generally choose a name of religious significance. Figuring out why Cardinal Ratzinger chose Benedict XVI will give writers weeks worth of columns.

How can I contact the Pope?

True to his position as the first 21st Century pontiff, his e-mail address is benedictxvi@vatican.va

-- Ronda Graff's oldest children are at the age where they'll start remembering things from this stage in their life, so I'd better leave them with a vivid memory. Here goes: "He'll make a nice pope, too."

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