Conclave

In Christ, there is neither Ratzinger
nor Bergoglio. The Glass Bead Games
of Freiburg, the River Plate gunslinger’s
wild shots, how did any of that proclaim

Christ, whether by sinuous whisper,
or Beppe Grillo antics ?
Christ’s kingdom lies not in how much crisper
thought is, nor in whatever frantic

wheelings of the unicycle, keep faith
upright, like Goya’s ropewalk archbishop.
You sinning cardinals, you red gathered wraiths,
choose one among you cleansed by hyssop.

The one who drinks from hyssop’s wine-dipped stalk,
is the one in whom, St Peter walks.

Woodford Halse - 24 April 2025

Exodus 12. 22, Leviticus 14.4, 14.52, Numbers 19. 2-6, 1 Kings 4.35, Psalm 51.7, Ezekiel 36.25, John 19. 29-30.

The obvious problem with the Pope Francis style, is how can anybody else imitate it, how can such transgressive popularism sustain the Papacy ? Who among the present cardinals is disposed to do a tribute act ? A John XXIII type pontificate is possible to many saintly men, but Pope Francis’ helter skelter defies imitation.

One is reminded of Vespasian being forced to agree to a Nero impersonator giving a concert and to a tribute band touring the provinces. The sad truth is, that Benedict XVI was closer to the general trend of virtuous popes. Jorge Bergoglio was unusual even as a Jesuit.

Much about the Bergoglio Papacy was business as usual. St Carlo Acutis was a wonderful canonisation, but look at the dreary list of nuns and foundresses who are still canonised and beatified, even kings like Francesco II of the Two Sicilies, a surprisingly reactionary endorsement.