One world, One family

The summer of my seventh grade, our family went to France for vacation. The tour bus dumped us in front of the Notre Dame, where flocks of tourists crowded the famous site. Shouting over the multilingual clamor of voices and ducking out of camera frames, my family and I weaved our way into the ancient church. The moment we walked– or rather, were shoved – through the heavy church doors, we were welcomed with a gust of cool dusty air and a peaceful silence. The altar of the church and the familiar crucifix stood in front of me, with a congregation of people gathered in the pews. As strains of the words Alleluia, alleluia reached our ears and a priest in his vestments approached the ambo, it dawned upon us that we had stumbled into a Mass that was being celebrated inside the Notre Dame. We weren’t expecting for this to happen – after all, going to Mass wasn’t part of the itinerary the tour guide gave us. While tourists around us snapped pictures of the church, my family and I jumped in the communion line and received the Holy Eucharist from a French lady. “The body of Christ,” she said in her language with smiling eyes. Thank goodness “Amen” is the same response in all countries. 

When I studied abroad for seven months in Asia, I went to Mass in Beijing, Taipei, and Hong Kong. On most occasions, I couldn’t understand everything that was said. But finding a Catholic Church was how I felt at home when I didn’t even feel at home with myself. It wasn’t just the building, but the family which it contained. It was like coming back from college and smelling the delicious home cooked meal waiting for you. Or finding legit Mexican food in Asia (let me tell you how exciting that was!). Or reuniting with a long-lost friend. The first time I went to Mass in Beijing, this kind elderly woman grabbed me by the hand and enthusiastically gave me resources to find Catholic churches near me. She even took down my contact information, scribbling down “Foreigner (老外）” as a note. 

This is the beauty of a universal church. Where there is a Catholic church, there is a home. Where there is Mass, there is a community. Not only are Catholics connected with other fellow faithful around the world, but our modern experiences today also intertwine with the long history of saints, traditions, scripture, and teachings which came before us. Pope Benedict XVI’s shares in his last General Audience, "Here, one can touch what the Church is -- not an organization, not an association for religious or humanitarian purposes, but a living body, a community of brothers and sisters in the Body of Jesus Christ, who unites us all."

Like any other institution involving humans, the Catholic Church isn’t perfect. Regrettably, there have been mistakes and failures to extend loving arms to every person. But still, the Catholic Church is a home for the sinners, a hospital for the broken, and an academia for the seeking. It isn’t about speaking the same language or coming from the same town. It’s about the faith, hope, and love. We can sing, dance, and celebrate our cultural diversity because what brings us together is not anything that belongs to this world, but to the Heavenly one.

A role in Rome, thank you Papa Bene!

I got a text message in class from my Catholic friend simply saying “the pope is resigning” out of the blue. What?! I was not expecting another pope so soon since it has only been eight years since Cardinal Ratzinger was elected in 2005. At the same time, resignations have happened before – just not in a long, long time (since 1415). His resignation will most likely, I think, introduce new aspects of spiritual leadership and papal ministry to discuss in the Catholic Church.  

            But people are asking why? That was my same question too, as there does not seem to be any direct influence. However, reading Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation announcement fully, it’s exactly because his resignation is not related to a scandal or politics. Rather, Pope Benedict XVI’s announcement came at a time where he demonstrates – in a really bold way – how to discern God’s will and what it looks like for one to live with God’s life as his center.

Contrary to social media’s portrayal of Pope Benedict XVI as failing, abandoning, or giving up, his resignation is one of humility and Christian example. To step down so suddenly is slightly surprising to say the least, but Pope Benedict XVI puts aside the heavy pressure of 600 years to remind us that he did not accept the papal ministry in pursuit of his own self-interests, but to guide the Church while facing the challenge of an environment increasingly hostile towards faith. In his humility, Pope Benedict XVI recognizes his own capacities and limitations in light of the burdensome demands and requirements of the ministry to which the papacy is called. His resignation does not demonstrate a lack of commitment to the papal ministry, but rather a deep understanding of the commitment and the needs of the Church today. Pope Benedict XVI actively showed this by striving to move the Catholic Church towards integrating faith with modern society through his encyclicals, improving interfaith relations, and renewing the faith by declaring in November 2012 as the start of the Year of Faith. He set the stage for a new evangelization and is now passing on the leadership role to one who – also guided by the Holy Spirit – can carry out this mission.

I am moved by Pope Benedict XVI’s great amount of courage and sincerity. By stepping aside, he shows a side of true leadership which is rarely seen in authority figures today. Even though he carries the authority of the Catholic Church, he also carries the spirit of servanthood established by Jesus Christ and places God’s will for the Church above all else. Furthermore, he humbly recognizes that his papacy, despite significant contributions, is only part of a much bigger legacy that began with St. Paul and will continue into the future under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Where do we go from here? In the spirit of the Lenten season, which began with Ash Wednesday this past week, the Church enters a time of reflection and prayer until Easter. It is an excellent time for Catholics – myself included – to challenge themselves to repent and bring ourselves closer to life with Christ. Pope Benedict XVI, in his last homily on Ash Wednesday, calls all to renew our faith and trust in God as a community. The conclave will be gathering after Pope Benedict XVI steps down on February 28^th. You can read more about how it works here.

            Many articles have called for changing of church teachings or set some standards for what people are looking for in the new pope. However, one must remember that the election of the new pope is not a presidential election. These voices and many others out there, miss the point which Pope Benedict XVI is trying to make. I think he’s asking us to learn about humility and Christian leadership which can be applied in our own lives, rather to make demands on making the Church conform to alternative views which we personally prefer without fully listening first (as put nicely in this article). 

            Although I am a little anxious about this change in papacy (okay or maybe a lot), I am hopeful for this next chapter in the Catholic Church history. I anticipate the white smoke and the words Habemus papam! We have a pope!

Other interesting reads: 1 2 3