Pope Benedict-A New Miracle in the offing-Insha Allah

I am very encouraged by Pope Bendict's visit to Turkey and the way he reached out and proved that he has come with a mission to respect Islam and extend a reconciling and friendly hand to the adherents of Islam. It is equally impressive that the visit went off well without any major unsavoury incident. The photograph of the Pontiff and Turkey's religious leader Ali Bardakoglu holding holds, both wearing grand white dresses, should give an indication that this Pope is really serious about bridging the divide between the two great religions and the Islamic leaders are equally willing to bring it about.

I have a feeling that the ex-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has been read wrongly by the Media and Analysts earlier, because of his long stay as Ideology chief in the Vatican under Pope John Paul II. I think that long stay might have helped him to reflect on and realise that blind ideology in religious matters and issues is not sustainable and that the Vatican needs to show a flexible face to the world and take a more active role in cultivating an understanding and friendship towards other religions.

May be he was constrained by his post and the strong personality of Pope John Paul II and could not influence him much. Pope John Paul II was very charismatic but was also very rigid in his stands, particularly in relaxing certain procedures (like use of contraceptive, ordaining of women as priests, etc) and must have read his mission as strengthening Catholicism by emphasizing the fundamentals as he knew them. But the world had moved on and he perhaps could not face the fact that in a basically democratic world, the subjects want a better say in how they are governed and directed, be it either by political or religious leaders. Also his frail and failing health would have definitely undermined his enthusiasm to make radical changes.

But that is not the case with Pope Benedict. His election as Pontiff was a well-conducted affair (contrast to the election of Pope John Paul II, in an emotional atmosphere immediately after the short reign of Pope John Paul I, who suddenly died within just a few days of becoming Pope). Pope Benedict must have canvassed for his policies amongst the Cardinals who elected him and must have given them some idea about what he thought his mission was, should he be elected as Pope. It is a credit to the College of Cardinals that they went out to elect him, in spite of his reputation as an ideologue and inflexible theoretician. I believe something radical happened in that conclave and the College of Cardinals must have debated about the future of Catholicism and the ways and means to revive its popularity and standing and felt that Cardinal Ratzinger with his long experience inside Vatican was a better candidate to implement changes, albeit gradually.

Who better to initiate these changes than the person who was earlier tasked with the responsibility of writing, advocating and implementing the rules and procedures.

I also believe that Pope John Paul II was more style but Pope Benedict would infuse more substance into his running of the Papacy.

He has started well in visiting Turkey which though secular has a majority of Muslim population and which is under tremendous pressure to transform itself more so it can be admitted into the European Union. And Turkey is better placed geographically as a bridge between the turbulent West Asia and the prosperous Europe. Pope Benedict’s blessings and reaching out to Islam in Turkey is rather symbolic and pregnant with meaning.

I fervently hope that this initiative can be seized by all the important players and a better understanding and tolerance can come about between the major religions. As it has been said by Pope Benedict, after all, they all pray to the One God and there should really be no ill-will or hate amongst them. Democracy also means freedom and liberty, which sadly has been overlooked when dealing with others of different persuasions and practices.

Insha Allah, Pope Benedict may be the catalyst to develop better understanding and relationship and bring about more miracles than are expected of him and those sick of the fighting and killing that is going on in the world will grasp his outstretched hand to promote peace and prosperity.

The signs and images are encouraging after Pope Benedict’s visit to Turkey.

God Speed to him.