Papal Dichotomies?

I love hearing the media talk about Pope Francis. How they praise him may often stir me to raise a cautious hand in protest, but I always appreciate it as a means of initiating dialog and discussion on all things Catholic. This Friday was no exception. The NY Times recently ran an article by Beppe Severgnini on “Why Italians Love Francis.” While Severgnini could not cease his lengthy flattery of Francis and his new example, the passing references to Pope Emeritus Benedict felt unnecessarily derogatory. Noting that the conclave had originally “opted for Mr. Ratzinger,” the author proceeded to set up a false dichotomy between the two pontiffs.

“Francis likes people at least as much as Benedict XVI liked books. The German pope gave Catholics an unremitting theology lesson. The Argentine gives them reassurance and understanding. All you need is love. Don’t be surprised if Francis starts quoting Lennon.”

Besides arguing that Francis will not (nor should) quote Lennon’s quasi-theological one-liners, this article and others have slowly propagated the misconception that the two popes are polarized figures. They prefer to frame Francis as the radical who is progressively casting off the stuffy theology of Benedict in favor of a more “reassuring” hermeneutic.

Perhaps a more constructive perspective would see the two figures as complementary, as carrying on the continuity of the faith. While their degrees of scholarship and spontaneity may vary, their messages remain one. The Catholic faith is both ancient and new, steeped in tradition yet deeply personal–neither aspect can survive in isolation. This understanding lends itself to greater appreciation of Benedict’s contributions, while revealing the hidden continuity of Francis’ “new tone” of leadership. In the meantime, don’t hold your breath for papal usage of Lennon.