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Yet there are other “little” sins that
Pope might not have had in mind during confession. Like three or four popes who every morning were cursing and calling one another antichrist, demons, adulterers, sodomists, and enemies of God and man, during Council of Constance. Like papal court being served at supper by twelve naked girls. Like female pope (call her a popess) who having been impregnated by one of her trusted attendants, gave birth to a child during a procession from St. Peter’s to Lateran.
The pope might have had “big” sins in mind. Such as Catholic support for Nazism and Fascism. Or introduction of slave trade by Church through Spanish monk Las Casas—the apostle of Indians. Or thousands that were crushed, burnt, choked to death or hanged on trees during notorious Inquisition. (No thanks to papal Bull “Ad exstirpanda.”) Then innumerable people that were slaughtered in crusades or five hundred helpless women that were burnt alive in a barn in Merindol, or of pitilessly murdered children. Or 10,000 Protestants massacred in Paris on St. Bartholomew’s Day in 1572 and of Pope Gregory XIII attending a thanksgiving service in Church of St. Louis and minting a coin with words “Ugonotorum Stranges 1572” (The slaughter of Huguenots 1572), to commemorate “great” event. Of course, there was Church’s active support for two world wars where millions of “Christian” soldiers were blessed to fight and die for fatherland.
On other hand, pope might have had both “small” and “big” sins in mind when he made “mea culpa.” As to whom he made confession, is another matter. Suffice it to say that pope said sorry.
So, even if new pope after Pope John Paul, were to attempt some reformation in irreformable Roman Catholic Church; or if he were to exhume Pope Formosus again and give him a papal burial, he has already been undone. For he did not say “forgive us our trespasses.”
In world of religion, there are some famous titles. Check these: The beloved disciple, Apostle John. The light of Asia, Siddhartha Gautama Budda. The seraphic doctor, St. Bonaventura. Defender of The Holy Sepulcher, Godfrey of Bouillon. The apostle of Northumbria, St. Aidan. Madonna, “Virgin” Mary. The lone voice crying in wilderness, John baptizer. And Great Teacher, Jesus Christ. To this list, we would add honest pope. His name? John Paul.
Now, to honest pope: goodbye!
Arthur Zulu is an editor, book reviewer, and author of Chasing Shadows!, How to Write a Best-seller, A Letter to Noah, and many others. For his works and free help for writers, goto:
http://controversialwriter.tripod.com
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Arthur Zulu is an editor, book reviewer, and published writer.
