An Open Letter to the New Pope

We need a pope whose attention is on scriptural moral leadership. Such morality places our salvation in direct relationship to our response to the material needs of those around us: 

For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me. 

Then the virtuous wilt say to him in reply, ​“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you ?” And the King will answer, ​“tell you solemnly, insofar as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” (Matt. 25, 34-40) 

The stress must be on ideal conduct and altruistic responses to life’s individual and collective crises. By hindsight, papal emphasis on legality rather than morality has been distressing. 

We need a pope who will democratize the church. In the early church, prospective bishops openly sought the office and were duly elected by the people: 

This saying is true: If anyone is eager for the office of bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then, must be blameless, married but once, reserved prudent, of good conduct, hospitable, a teacher, not a drinker or a brawler, but moderate, not Quarrelsome, not avaricious. He should rule well his own household, keeping his children under control and perfectly respectful. For if a man cannot rule his own household, how is he to take care of the Church of God? (I Tim. 3, 1-5) 

St. Ambrose of Milan was elected Bishop by the people of that city even before he was baptized. Such was the democracy of the fourth century. 

We need a pope who will divest the church of its financial holdings and who would welcome an end to tax exemptions for ecclesiastical institutions, especially places of worship. Historically wealthy churches have been corrupt and frugal churches have been healthy. 

In opposition to the very fabric of the Roman Empire, the primitive church was clandestine and illegal. It was a prophetic and dynamic force. But conformity to empire after the time of Constantine brought weaknesses that were foreign to the primitive church. We need a pope who will stand up to empire as the early Christians did. Our new pope will be called upon to condemn arms merchants, imperialists and dictators. He must call them to repent.

Opposition to empire will develop a church that is less visible and more ecumenical; less impacted with religiosity and more bent on the spirituality of service. Enemies of justice will no longer be comfortable members.

Many Catholics in Asia, Africa and Latin America are irreversibly convinced that Christianity has no future with capitalism, an economic system which puts profit above the needs of the people. They believe instead as did the early Christians: 

The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed. (Acts 2, 44-45) 

We need a pope who understands this and who welcomes a constant dialogue with non-Christians. Such a church will be less triumphalistic and ready to join vast coalitions of Jews, Hindus, Moslems, Buddhists, Protestants and atheists in militant opposition to atomic warfare and militarism. In this setting, atheistic humanists and theistic humanists can work together for world order. 

During its years as the captive of empire, the church has wholesaled guilt to its members personalistically. Types and severity of sin were defined and forgiveness retailed individually. The individual has been so very sin-conscious that he or she is driven to non-action; precisely what empire wants. In fundamental Christian simplicity the opposite is demanded. Non-action is the sin and constructive collective action is the virtue. To tolerate ignorance, hunger and disease is to foster violence. 

Our new pontiff must be able to teach middle class religionists in the U.S. that their position is perhaps the least innovative and creative in contemporary Christianity. Lessons can be learned from countries in struggle for liberation. The true God is a God of liberation. A god who does not liberate is an idol. To speak of knowing God without working for his kingdom of justice here and now is failure to do the will of God on earth…as it is in heaven.

Conforming itself to empire, church leadership generally lives the lifestyle of the ruling class. Such conduct is self-condemning. The ruling class has a greater share of the economic surplus than it rightfully deserves. To live on that level is to preach injustice. We need a pope who understands this. 

You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. ​‘This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matt. 20, 25-28) 

The positions taken by our new pontiff might be so strong that he would not be welcome in many churches. Indeed, the ​“devout pillars of the Church” might want to crucify him. He must motivate Russians to organize against the violations of human rights in the Soviet Union and he must motivate Americans to organize against capitalistic greed in the U.S. And the new pope must motivate the majority of the world’s people to struggle for what is rightfully theirs. The pope we need will alienate the great powers…and he will attract their people. 

Because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name; And his mercy is from generation to generation toward those who fear him. He has shown might with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He has put down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things and the rich he has sent empty away. (Luke 1, 46-53) 

May Your Holiness have a great pontificate. 

Sincerely in Christ, 

Blase A. Bonpane 

Dept. of Political Science, 

California State University, 

Northridge, Calif.