As we fast approach a papal conclave, it’s worth looking back at the actual function of a pope.
Saint Peter is traditionally thought of as the first pope, and between him and Pope Francis there have been 266 pontiffs, who have had varying degrees of influence on political and religious life through the ages.
What is the function of a pope and do we need one?
Well, apart from overseeing the vast wealth of the Catholic Church, the pope brings a blend of spiritual, administrative and traditional symbolism to the wider church and its followers, some one billion Catholics, spread across Europe, the Americas, Africa and the far east.
The pope’s role is to stay abreast of how the faith is maintained, whilst also being responsible for keeping the lights on in Vatican City.
According to the church, having a pope to head-up the church goes back to the very beginnings of Christianity. This is how Jesus apparently set the organisation up from the beginning, with Jesus’ naming Peter as his spiritual successor and handing him the keys of the earthly kingdom. Over the years though, the kingdom has been defined more like the territory of a drugs cartel than a religious organisation, with frequent power grabs and overt influence being brought to bear on royals and political leaders. So, while a pope is seen as the glue that hold the Holy Church of Rome together, some look upon the role as that of a Mafia Don keeping everyone in line.
With the imminent death of Pope Francis there are many that will beg the question: do we need another pope? The simple answer is yes. Every organisation, every business, every faith needs a figurehead. Without one you just have ‘the word’, which would be much more freely interpreted than it currently is by those who deem themselves Catholics, or even more broadly, Christians.
The bottom line: money and influence
As with any organisation, there are hardliners and those that are more lackadaisical in their everyday faith. Many lapsed Catholics left the church due to its dogma on certain subjects, with others just want to practice their religious beliefs without the fuss of organised religion. But the number of sheep in the flock is quite consistent – and even appears to be growing slightly (forbidding contraception will do that).
But the sway that the church once held is now waning, particularly in English-speaking countries. It has lost relevance and respect in the face of numerous horrific sex abuse scandals that have been hushed up and quietly brushed under the Vatican’s ever-growing rug. In Ireland, for example, less than 30% of people under 40 years of age now identify as religious. That figure was as high as 90% just a decade or two ago.
So, while the church’s flock remains relatively stable, it is becoming more fluid. Africa and Asia are where it’s growing the most, with Papua New Guinea and Timor hosting large congregations, while Latin America is a steady contributor to the total number of faithful with an estimated 560 million souls that identify with the church.
The Catholic church is not just a business, it is also a State in and of itself. With reported assets of over $4.3 billion USD, its total wealth was estimated to be in the range of $30 billion back in 2018, with some claiming it to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars. So, passing the plate during Sunday mass seems to work. But without a centralised accounting system it is impossible to really tell what the church is worth.
As the Catholic Church, and other Christian faiths wane in the Western world amidst an influx of non-Christian migrants, the Catholic Church has begun to sell off its smaller and less frequented churches – generating yet more income for the Holy See.
So, what does the future hold for God’s supposed puppet – sorry, spokesperson – on earth? It seems like a pretty good gig if you can get it – and are not murdered in the process like Pope Jon Paul I.
But then that’s the big issue. 120 cardinals (or thereabouts) are selected to vote in a new pope in a long and arduous process that results in a plume of white smoke emerging from the roof of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome if a pope is elected, or black smoke if the deliberations continue.
You may have watched Conclave, the new movie with Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci that is touted to win an Oscar or two this year. It exposes some of the intrigue, skulduggery and conspiracy theories that the election of a new pope generates.
Will this ritual continue? Nostradamus thought not. Some point to his prediction that the church will fall with the next pope… time will tell. But until then, the spectacle will continue…
