By VANDERLEI TENÓRIO*
In times of extremism and global crises, the world needs a Pope who can speak to the 21st century — not a guardian of traditions that no longer respond to our dilemmas.
1.
I have been following the coverage of the election of the new Pope with great attention – and even with a certain fascination. Amidst live broadcasts, round tables and special programs that more closely resemble an electoral bulletin, there is one question that is repeated like a mantra: “Who do you think will be the new Pope?” Priests, bishops and cardinals respond in unison, almost as if reciting a hymn: “The Pope will be chosen by the Holy Spirit.” The answer sounds automatic, ready-made, rehearsed – and it is.
But here and there, voices like that of Frei Betto emerge, breaking with the official discourse and reminding us that, behind the white smoke, there is a lot of politics involved. After all, entrusting the choice of a head of state exclusively to the Holy Spirit (because that is what it is also about) is, at the very least, a Pollyannaish way of avoiding the debate on politics and power within the Church.
I obviously have respect for faith. The idea that a divine force hovers over the conclave and guides the cardinals in choosing Peter’s successor is, for many, a spiritual consolation. But when analyzed with a minimum of strategy or critical sense, it is an abstraction – not to say an alienation – with an almost simple, interior tone. A beautiful metaphor that covers up territorial disputes, geopolitical alliances, inflated egos and very earthly interests. To deny this is to wear the cassock of willful ignorance.
And it is this game that worries me. I am not concerned about the survival of the Church – it has already survived empires, wars and reforms. What worries me is who will come next. At a time when the far right is advancing with force over bodies, rights and discourses; in a world at war, anesthetized and polarized; in a scenario in which diplomacy has become the exception and radicalism the rule – it is legitimate to fear the election of someone who does not understand the gravity of the throne he will inherit.
Will this new Pope be someone capable of engaging in dialogue with the 21st century — as Francis has tried to do, even in the face of internal resistance? Or will we witness a discreet regression, disguised as tradition?
2.
The conclave is a chessboard covered in velvet, gold and symbolism. And, as much as it is repeated that the Holy Spirit guides the decision, I sincerely hope that this divine breath also has historical awareness and political sensitivity.
Meanwhile, we secular journalists often get caught up in the spectacle of smoke, bells, the motionless Swiss Guard and the excited faithful – almost as if they were part of a Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale. We forget – or ignore – that there are real pressures at play: lobbying from different wings, ideological disputes, the weight of Latin America – which Donald Trump sees as his backyard; of Africa – which, in the last two decades, has become strategic for China and Asia in this process.
Added to this is the growth of Pentecostal churches, the crisis in vocations, the unresolved sexual abuse scandals and the distancing of younger generations from institutionalized religiosity.
Media coverage rarely touches on central issues: the role of women in the Church, the discussion on celibacy, openness to sexual diversity, and the fight against social inequality. It also fails to mention the need for the Church to address urgent issues such as the climate emergency – on which Pope Francis was one of the few religious voices to take a clear stance –, the relationship with science, and the welcoming of indigenous peoples, migrants, and refugees. All of this should be on the new pontiff’s agenda. But will it be?
The fear is that, faced with so many conservative forces, the Church will opt for someone who will close doors instead of opening them. Someone who, in the name of a rigid tradition, will distance himself from the world and lose the opportunity to lead a flock that no longer accepts dogmas without question. Someone who does not realize that faith needs to dialogue with knowledge, with social justice, with the challenges of the present – including the very idea of a more open, communal spirituality that is committed to the dramas of humanity.
More than just the election of a religious leader, the conclave reveals how much institutions of power resist change. In an era of transparency, participatory democracy, and active listening to minorities, the election of a Pope still takes place in secret, behind walls and rituals. This is not about trivializing the mystery of faith, but about recognizing that the world has changed – and the Church, if it wants to remain relevant, needs to keep up.
What is at stake, after all, is not just the name of the next Pope. It is the future of an institution that needs to reinvent itself if it wants to continue to be a beacon in such dark times. May someone come who is willing to listen. Who, like Bergoglio, is human. Who is, in fact, a shepherd for our time – and not just the guardian of a memory that refuses to be questioned.
*Vanderlei Tenorio is a journalist and college preparatory course teacher.
the earth is round there is thanks to our readers and supporters.
Help us keep this idea going.
CONTRIBUTE
