CHAPTER 5
SUNDAY NOON AFTER THE PRAYER OF THE ANGELUS, POPE JOHN XXIV CALLS FOR A NEW ECUMENICAL CONCLAVE FOR THE UNIVERSAL CATHOLIC CHURCH
“The College of Cardinals is to remain in Rome to start planning, developing and implementing the framework for the conversion of this new Universal Catholic Church to one of inclusion. This will be the beginning of dialogues that will culminate in the start of an Ecumenical Conclave in one year. All interested Christian, Protestant, Jewish and other denominations are welcomed to send 10 representative members, having authority to vote and recommend, to the Conclave for their consideration of doctrines and governing policies by which the Universal Catholic Church will be governed.
Yes, we as a community of believers must change in order for each and every one of its’ congregants can experience fully all aspects of Christian fellowship with the Holy Trinity, in serving God Our Father, his son our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Each and every member of God’s family is to have equality of love and blessings without prejudice of origin, race, color, creed, sex, and sexual orientation, single or married. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
It is God’s will that we are to live in peace and harmony with all the people of world, and we as members of His Divine Body are to be an extension of that existence in every facet of our lives to our families, workplace, community, governments, and extending it to the limits of our universe.
This magnificent basilica is not what makes a church, but the community of believers is the church. For too long, the goal of our churches was to build monumental and glorious edifices to the glory of God, when we should have been building faith communities to spend their resources, time and energy in evangelizing the world. It will no longer be required that our priests be celibate, and they will be allowed to marry. Christ’s teachings were based on the unity, strength, and love within the family. The virtues of The Holy Family have always been our model, for which we challenged our faithful to achieve. A married priesthood, experiencing the same trials and tribulations of married life, will be more knowledgeable of life, and able to share that wisdom with their flock.
Existing policies, self-centered environments, putting priests on pedestals, self-glorification and seeking materialism, have led to inhumane standards that have created self-fulfilling failures within some of our priests that have led to egotism, trials, tribulations, and scandals that have rocked the church. These are prime examples of the failures of the legacy of having believed in the wrongful choices for what leads to a good, faithful, dedicated, and honored episcopacy.
Scandals have caused belligerent resentments directed at catholic churches due to behaviors as pedophilia, other sex scandals, embezzlement of church funds, etc. Fortunately, some National Bishops Conferences have accepted and addressed their responsibilities to all the innocent victims of these travesties and the need for their protection. The Universal church needs to continue to be accountable for the actions of people that represent them according to civil and legal laws of their national governments.
The purpose of a church community is not to create a means of survival, of just fulfilling our duty, but an environment for all its faithful to be nourished, emblazoned with zeal, love for our God, passion for our faith, blessings, and dedication of sharing that faith through evangelization to others and particularly to nonbelievers. Our mission here is not done. We must share our Christianity so that our love of neighbor, peace and tranquility needs to extend to all the people of this world. Our faith is not for our self-fulfillment and enjoyment, we are to be servants in God’s name to everyone else.
May the Peace of the Lord be with you all. In the name of the Father, The Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.”
While Pope John XXIV was speaking, everyone was quiet, but their body language easily displayed either their disbelief or awe as to what was about to happen in the church. Once he concluded his homily, everyone in the plaza goes wild with applause and excitement; the TV commentators are going ballistics with trying to capture the essence of the most outstanding statements to have ever been declared by a Pope. Members of the church Episcopacy can be seen dumbfounded by the changes being proposed by the Pope, and some are openly critical as they talk among themselves.
The Pope signals for the Choir to begin their next hymn. Slowly everyone seems to refocus on the Mass. At the conclusion of the Mass, the Pope enters the pope mobile to be among the throngs of visitors in St. Peter’s Square.
As the new Pope approaches the doors of the Basilica, loud angry voices and shouts can be heard behind the closed doors. As the announcement that the Pope is entering the Basilica, everyone seems to be scrambling to disappear, and a quiet hush soon befalls the assembled.
Moving quickly towards the Pope is a group of Cardinals headed by the Dean, who upon encountering the Pope, addresses him in a terse pitch voice of displeasure.
“Your Holiness, how could you have made these ridiculous pronouncements without first consulting us, and having us vote on these matters? You are throwing the church into chaos!”
Pope John in a calm voice tells the group gathered that the College of Cardinals is to meet in the Sistine Chapel for a meeting in three hours from now, so that everyone and the staff have an opportunity to prepare as well to have a private dinner. “It will be best for all of us to gather together in order to discuss the proclamations that I have made when all Cardinals will be present. I will meet you all there at that time, your, Excellencies.”
The Pope then heads to his private chambers. With everyone standing around flustered that the Pope did not respond to their questions. Finally, they dispersed in various groups of like-minded opinions to plot their next move.
The First American Pope Page 5
