The strange silence

I am writing on a day when the news outlets 24-48 hours ago were highlighting the dire dilemma regarding Pope Francis’ health issues. What started out as a infection known to his doctors as usual and cyclical occurrence.

Then escalating to a full scale pneumonia and the sense of impending death.

Now the same tabloids have gone into a strange silence.

I believe that the change of Pope which for many would not be an event that would change their spiritual landscape one has to accept his influence and his office respected by most countries it is a shift.

Whilst Pope Francis was a pastoral figure, it is obvious between him and his predecessor being Benedict XVI, a theologian. It would seem that there needs to be a figure that brings a balance and a substance to pure Biblical theology as well as the pastoral needs of a Church society in a context of very strong winds of negative change.

I personally sense as he does that we have reached his final hours.

I see that one of the perceived changes he brought was the demotion of investment in Doctrine and more on Evangelisation. It would seem that without foundation of our faith must precede evangelisation. Without a rich Biblical understanding the richness of the Gospel will be at risk.

When Pope Francis took on the responsibility of Papal Authority, there was already a abuse scandal raging. The crisis upon clerical morality, and other crises are still raging. May the next Pope take on these challenges. May the Church as a whole recognise the need to find the unity of the faith. This is not a rational or human effort, but allowing the Holy Spirit to birth of a spiritual unity.

The Church must have some maturity and stature to meet the returning Christ, Head of the Church.