Spring Break
Baltimore Bishop discusses Papacy
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Speaking to a group of students in Levering's Glass Pavilion, he mixed a discussion of current events with papal history and even a glimpse at the future of the Church.
"We thought the topic would be interesting because John Paul II is an interesting and well loved Pope, and there is a lot of outreach in his papacy," said Becky Bulger, Vice President of the group that brought Bennett to speak, the Hopkins Catholic Community. "We are interested in what will happen after his tenure, and who will fill his shoes," she said.
Bennett not only described John Paul II accomplishments, but also drew from personal experience in order to show his admiration for the twenty-five-year papacy. Having been invited to the pope's private chapel, Bennett reflected on his own experience with the pope, saying that "to see the face of someone who has such a close communion with God, I thought to myself, "This man is not a phony. This man is for real.'"
But Bennett acknowledged the pope's failing health, knowing that a new pope is on the horizon. Bennett offered what he would like to see in the new pope, as well as asked the audience what they would want. He reflected on the exceptional nature of this papal election, in that it features an interesting generational gap. A person his age has known five popes, whereas a college student has only known one.
The consensus reached at the presentation was that the new pope should continue reaching out to the youth while working to understand that facets and alliances of today's world. Many in the audience expressed interest in a more liberal pope, but Bennett pointed out that when looking for the leader of a religion, "You'd be hard-pressed to find a pope that's not conservative."
Bennett also said that "there's an enormous possibility" of a Pope being from a minority group or developing nation, but "the cardinals don't like to make the election a signal of something."
When asked about the African AIDS crisis and condom use, he said that the Pope should continue to actively fight the spread of the disease, but in regards to the possibility of the Church advocating condom use, Bennett said, "I wouldn't hold my breath."
In regards to the recent sexual scandals of the Catholic Church, he said that the new pope must make sure that the response mechanisms put in place by John Paul II are successfully implemented. Finally, he said that like John Paul II, the new pope should be an "honest broker," a mediator between opposing factions throughout the world.
The dialogue about culture has been a prime facet of the John Paul II papacy. He toured the world more than any pope in history, making himself available to people of all cultures and walks of life. To have a beloved pope in the Vatican is wonderful, but "to have him in your baseball stadium," said Bennett, is something altogether different and special.
Overall, Bennett was well received by all in attendance.
"It was very interesting to hear the recent history of the papacy," said Nicole Callahan '03. Maura McTague, president of the Hopkins Catholic Community, continued, "He's a wonderful speaker, and he did a wonderful job." Bennett returned these positive sentiments, saying of Hopkins: "It's always a great pleasure to be here. This group is no only smart, but is also interested in the Church and spirituality. It's a pleasant duty for me to be here."