A tribute to Benedictus

     The Pope is visiting Portugal for the next couple of days. Tomorrow he’ll visit Fátima, a town where the Virgin Mary was sighted and heard by three infants, three little shepherds. Any narration of that miracle should start by, “Once upon a time.” After all, believing in what three children said is only a slightly more modern version of fables where the animals are able to speak, let alone a long dead virgin who was also able to conceive yet preserving her sexual status. But today the Pope is visiting Lisboa, and delivered a mass so close to my workplace that I couldn’t help but writing a few lines on this Holy Day.

     Riding the bus to work, an aged lady asked me to open a window for her, because the vehicle was packed. And so we engaged in friendly conversation. She was coming from seeing the Pope being received by the president of the portuguese republic  (small caps intended). And she was going to attend the mass. The mass was going to be delivered on a square that overlooks the river and a monument on the farther margin representing Jesus Christ. Think of the statue in Rio de Janeiro. Not only they’re similar, but here it was built because the Portuguese Church suffers from a minor sin: envy.* The day was perfect for such an event: pearl blue skies and lamb-like clouds, some with a touch of grey to remind us that the Evil One is always on the lookout.

      ‘And don’t you think the Pope looked like a puppet and slightly ridiculous riding the fully enclosed Papamobile?’ I asked the lady.
     ‘Well, yes. But we cannot know what‘s in other persons’ hearts. Some might want to harm him.’
     ‘Oh, but he didn’t do anything wrong, did he? Such protective measures seem to be over the top.’As the lady shrugged and gave me a meaningful and aquiescent look, I decided to proceed, but always in a friendly way, ‘And what do you think he should do about those pedophilic priests?’
     ‘He’ll probably ask for forgiveness now at the mass. We should all pray for our priests.’
     ‘But wouldn’t it be better if they were granted the possibility of getting married?’
     ‘Oh, they cannot. They are already married.’
     ‘To God?’
     ‘Yes.’
     ‘Ah, so God’s a woman?’
     ‘No, no. God’s a man.’
     ‘But that makes the priests’ marriage a homosexual one, doesn’t it?’
     Homosexual marriage is a hot topic in Portugal too these days, and the narrative ends here, for the surrounding passengers were muffling their giggles.


* Medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas said of Envy: “Envy according to the aspect of its object is contrary to charity, whence the soul derives its spiritual life... Charity rejoices in our neighbor's good, while envy grieves over it.” The only neighbouring Church is that of Spain, and I’ve never seen the Portuguese one rejoicing in the former’s good, that’s for sure.     

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Written in Times New Roman, written in Times New Roman.