The papal chapter

Jan 22, 2020

By Cindy Wooden
The chapter attributed to Pope Benedict is about 25 pages long, including a six-page reprint of the homily he gave at the chrism Mass in St Peter’s Basilica in March 2008 on the meaning of “being a priest of Jesus Christ,” specifically in standing in the presence of God and serving him. The homily did not mention celibacy.

In a chapter originally attributed to both the Pope Emeritus Benedict and Cardinal Robert Sarah, they said the book resulted from an exchange of “ideas and our concerns,” particularly related to the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon, which heard repeated calls for considering the ordination of married elders to serve far-flung communities and provide greater access to the Eucharist and other sacraments.

Observers noted how unusual it was for the retired pope to intervene publicly on an issue the reigning Pope is considering.

The introduction said the two offered their reflections “in a spirit of love for the unity of the Church” and in “a spirit of filial obedience to Pope Francis.”

In a separate interview with Le Figaro, Cardinal Sarah said: “If this book is a cry, it’s a cry of love for the Church, the Pope, the priests and all Christians. We want this book to be read as widely as possible. The crisis facing the Church is striking.”

According to the published excerpts, the chapter signed by Pope Benedict noted how today many people assume the gradual adoption of the discipline of priestly celibacy was a result of “contempt for corporeality and sexuality.” The error of that thinking, he said, is demonstrated by the Church’s high view of the sacrament of marriage.

And, while acknowledging that celibacy has not always been a requirement for priesthood, he said that married priests were expected to abstain from sexual relations with their wives.

Renouncing marriage “to place oneself totally at the disposition of the Lord became a criterion for priestly ministry,” he said.

The published excerpts did not discuss the continuing practice of ordaining married men in the Eastern Catholic Churches nor the exceptions granted by St John Paul II and Pope Benedict to married former ministers of the Anglican Communion and other Christian denominations who become Catholic.

Last January, speaking to reporters flying back from Panama with him, Pope Francis said, “Personally, I believe that celibacy is a gift to the Church.”

“I’m not in agreement with allowing optional celibacy,” he said. “A phrase St Paul VI said comes to mind: ‘I would rather give my life than to change the law on celibacy.”’

However, he did say “there could be some possibility” of ordaining married men in very remote locations where there are Catholic communities that seldom have Mass because there are no priests. But, even for that situation, much study would need to be done.

Responding to journalists’ questions Jan 13, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, said, “the position of the Holy Father on celibacy is known,” and he quoted the Pope’s comments to journalists last January.

But Bruni also included Pope Francis’ statement that “some possibility” could exist for exceptions in remote areas “when there is a pastoral necessity. There, the pastor must think of the faithful.”

In addition, Bruni noted that when Pope Francis addressed members at the end of the Synod in October, he said he was pleased that “we have not fallen prisoner to these selective groups that from the Synod only want to see what was decided on one or another intra-ecclesial point” while ignoring all the work the Synod did in analysing the problems, challenges and hopes on the pastoral, cultural, social and ecological levels.--CNS