Monday, February 18, 2013

Pope Benedict’s departure: the end of Catholic Europe?

http://m.ruvr.ru/data/2013/02/13/1336607599/4_Par7428846.jpgFaith without actions is like a tree without fruit, Pope Benedict XVI told Catholics at his last Mass on Ash Wednesday.

Some experts viewed the Pope’s prayer as a cry out in the secular post-Christian Europe.

Pope Benedict XVI’s stunning announcement of his abdication due to insufficient vigor confused the Catholic World and triggered talks about the crisis of the Catholic Church as Benedict was seen as a barrier to the growing secularization of Europe. 

However, their hopes shattered and Europe didn’t return to the fold in the last 8 years.

Benedict XVI appeared even less popular than his predecessor Pope John Paul II though the latter was accused of being too liberal.

But Benedict’s conservative message hasn’t touched the souls of the Europeans either. This brings us to conclusions about the crisis of the Catholic Church Europe.

After the Pope’s abdication, Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations, said the Church’s future was not in Europe.

“It would be good if there were candidates from Africa or South America at the next conclave,” he said. Asked if he would vote for a non-European over a European candidate if they were equally qualified, he responded: “Yes.”

Expert in religious studies and translator Yuri Tabak says the Cardinal’s statement favors political correctness.
This statement reflects the dramatic shift of the Roman Catholic Church towards the developing world and signals that the choice of a new Pope will be not Europe-centered.

The Catholic Church is in a crisis, indeed, – let’s think of pedophile priest scandals, or the Vatican views on contraception which contradict fight against AIDS. (end)

The Church as a religious institute is now seeing problems common for all religions. 

The essence and major mission of the Church is to safeguard certain conservative values and be a bridge with the past and not to blindly follow modern trends. It should keep certain moral and ethical values of the past intact. 

The Church should lead and guide people but today’s Catholic Church is not very good at it.

The majority of experts agree that the Catholic Church needs a new leader who would have administrative and clerical experience and what is more important – he should be young and charismatic. 

In this case, the pope’s origin and citizenship will not be that important in the face of reviving Christianity in Europe.