I know that I’m one of the few Pentecostals to care about Catholic Popes. I care because more than any Christian on the planet, the voice of the Pope is heard among the masses and in the halls of government throughout the world. Modern Popes have been responsible for the rise and fall of empires. I admire the singular voice of authority that resides in the “chair of Peter.” Before you accuse me of heresy, please let me remind you that I really am a card carrying Pentecostal.
During my adult life, three men have served: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. I have read all encyclicals published since Vatican II, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and other theological works published by these men. The first thing that comes to mind is that few Protestants (including Pentecostals) have published anything comparable. There are exceptions, the first which comes to mind is Karl Barth. But it remains that the Popes are Christian theologians that must be heard.
John Paul II – aka, John Paul the Great – came of age during World War II and its aftermath. He served the church on the doorsteps of the Soviet Union – the evil empire. It has been suggested that the Soviets worried more about the moral influence of John Paul II than the military of any nation. In fact, the Soviets conspired to assassinate him. John Paul II was a charismatic leader – in the truest sense of the word. He was filled with Holy Spirit and spoke with a prophetic voice. He widely traveled the world on many pastoral visits. He proclaimed the Christian faith in the midst of an atheistic political culture. Young people flocked by the hundreds of thousands to see him on World Youth Day events. He was a Christian champion in an age that desperately needed champions.
Benedict XVI is an academic theologian in the German tradition. He too came of age in the aftermath of WWII, but on the other side of the Iron Curtain. His white hair, traditional values, and reserved manner seemed to alienate him from a secular culture that worshiped youth. But he is brilliant. His theological writings will guide the church long after his death. I especially like his Introduction to Christianity. He proclaimed the faith in the midst of an increasingly secular Western culture. In the end, his advanced age denied him the necessary energy to deal with the challenges that faced the Catholic church. So, in an act of humility and wisdom he resigned.
Francis is the first American pope. His theology and ministry have been shaped by the spirituality and politics of Latin America, especially Argentina. Like John Paul II, Francis is a pastoral pope. He has demonstrated profound humility in acts of foot washing. His theological concerns are guided by his pastoral compassion. His apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) set the pastoral tone of his leadership. He will lead the church during a theologically and sociologically tumultuous period. The upcoming Synod on the Family will test his theological and pastoral mettle.
You may be asking, “So why do you care?” Let me assure you that I’m not Roman Catholic; but I am catholic. That means I believe that all who confess Jesus as Lord are the body of Christ – I believe in the unity of the Faith. I don’t hold to Roman Catholic view of the primacy of the chair of Peter. Rather, I hold to an adapted Orthodox view of episcopacy – that all of the autocephalous bishops throughout the world (including denominational leaders) form a collective episcopacy. The bishops of church are the primary theologians and shepherds of billions of Christians throughout the earth. I care because I’m part of the family.
