Ordinarily, you would have thought that the Pope preoccupies himself with pastoral duties and herding the sheep of the Christendom, particularly millions of Catholic faithful all over the world.But Pope Benedict XVI was so concerned about the growing worldwide problem of road rage and rising cases of accidents, that he asked the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Migrants and Itinerant People to issue a document that, among other guidelines, lists 10 commandments for drivers.
Released a few months ago, the Papal injunctions marked the first time the Vatican would be dealing specifically with traffic-related problems, particularly road rage. There is no place where the document is as relevant as it is in Nigeria, especially during the Christmas season when road discipline and courtesy are usually at their lowest ebb.
Entitled: Guidelines for Pastoral Care of the Road, the document forbids speeding, dangerous overtaking, drinking before driving and rude hand gestures, as well as urges drivers to respect the rights of pedestrians and make the sign of the cross before setting off. It also advises against the use of cars to show off and “arouse envy” - certainly a tough call in Nigeria where the car (new or tokunbo) is a status symbol.
Addressing the reactions that trailed the pontiff’s guidelines, Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican Office for Migrants and Itinerant People, explained that the Pope felt it necessary to deal with “the pastoral needs of motorists” because cars tend to bring out the primitive side of human beings”.
And still talking about the document and its relevance, one of the commandments - “cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination or an occasion for sin” - seems to have been penned with some Nigerian vehicle owners in mind. Here is why: Cardinal Martino said the commandment refers in part to motorists who use their cars to pick up prostitutes, which is “an offence to human dignity”.
Specifically, the Vatican’s 10 Commandments for driver’s are:
1. You shall not kill
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbour in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not-so-young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.
The document further urges dioceses to help set up chapels along the highways, with priests holding mass or offering spiritual comfort at service stations.
While concerns have tended to focus on careless use of mobile phones, the vatican suggests that passengers can safely recite the rosary because “the rhythm and gentle repetition does not distract the driver’s attention”.
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