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Hot Topic: Bishop of Rome retires

So the Bishop of Rome - aka the Pope, head of the Roman Catholic Church - announced that he will be retiring at the end of February. This is historic because it has not happened for 600 years. The last time a pope retired it was during a time of uprising and fighting and there were 3 people claiming to be the Pope. We've all heard the joke that the Pope gave up his job for Lent. It's been rumored by some groups that the Pope is retiring before things come out about clergy misconduct and cover up within the denomination. The Vatican states that the Pope is retiring because his health can no longer meet the demands of the job.

Whatever the reason, I think this leaves the world's largest Christian denomination in an interesting place and other denominations as well. It's a time to examine what Church leadership is and what it means to be the head of a religious organization. Regardless of whatever denomination, its leader bears the weight of many. There are expectations placed on them, realistic and not, that contradict each other. Be approachable and "one of the people" yet don't be like us or of this world. How do you do that? Leadership is expected to be everything but yet not everything. It's just tiring. Where do you draw the line? Is this part of the reason people are skeptical of Church and the people who "lead" it?

I don't know and don't want to even pretend like I have an answer for this. But with the Pope retiring I hope that this time is filled with discernment. I hope that the Church can find leadership that is truly reflective of the people in the pews and where they want Church to be. I pray that we find leadership that wants to find ways to bring individuals together verses making the divides deeper. This and more I pray.
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