The Roman Catholic Church has just elected a new pope.
“Big deal,” you say. “I’m not a Catholic.” In some ways, I would agree with you. On one level, I don’t really care who 133 cardinals think should be the next so-called “vicar of Christ.” I can easily do without all the pageantry and excessive celebration of the Catholic Church. The pope is not the leader of global Christianity and has no direct effect on me. On another level, the pope holds a crucial position that affects all of us. Currently, 1.4 billion people identify with the Roman Catholic Church. To them, what the pope believes and says holds immense weight. He is much more than some random dude draped in a white robe and riding in the popemobile—he is the primary proponent of doctrine and practice. What he believes matters to his followers.
The newly elected pope (as well as a vast majority of the electing cardinals) was appointed as a cardinal by his predecessor, Francis. Francis was known to fall on the liberal end of the spectrum, most notably on the issue of homosexual marriage. His response of “Who am I do judge?” when asked about the subject should have disqualified him from any type of church leadership. If one of my church members asked for advice about such a clear biblical teaching, I would be obligated to give a clear answer. Francis, however, refused.
This brings us back to why it matters. The 1.4 billion Catholics around the world do not live in a Vatican vacuum. They are everyday people who live in our neighborhoods, work with us, vote with us, and make public policy. While the pope does not influence me, he does influence them. Over time, even the most outrageous views become normal if we hear them enough from people we respect. If the new pope holds liberal views, conservatives will be on the “outside” and liberal views will become even more mainstream.
In time, if we pay close enough attention, we will find out what Pope Leo XIV believes. If he proves to hold liberal views, the media will paint those views as belonging to mainstream Christianity and the rest of us will be considered a weird fanatical fringe. On the other hand, if he proposes conservative views, he will be maligned as a hateful bigot. But whatever he believes we all, Catholic or not, should take our direction from the Bible, not any man—regardless of how regal his title sounds.
