One of our other regular commentators, Dr Andrew Kania, is delivering an address at Oxford University tonight. Today though by the wonders of these new technologies we are able to bring you an address delivered at Oxford in the Year 2040 by the recently retired Pope John XXIV. The 'tehnology' is actually the creative, perhaps over-optimistic, mind of one of our other commentators, George Ripon. By way of introduction, George writes: "I first got into print on the Church Reform under the heading "Breathe" in the Online Catholics in issue 62, 20 Jul 2005. I had a dream and I'm at it again with a look into the future under a new pope, a dream or maybe a vision? No one can stop our dreams and dreams can lead us in many directions. Sadly the reality is different but we must maintain 'Joyful Hope' unless this is abolished in the New English translations."

Former Pope's address at Oxford

This is an edited version of the address given by the retired Pope John 24th
in the Great Hall at Christ Church Oxford on the Feast of all Saints, 1st Nov 2040

It's good to be back in Oxford, my old stamping ground, to reflect on my years away. It was in 2017 that I got the call when I was happy here in academia lecturing in Spirituality and Liturgy at the Catholic Theological College. I had a call from my friend William (Archbishop of Westminster) that he needed to see me. After a quick examination of conscience as to what I had done wrong I was on my way to London. A warm greeting reassured me that no secret reports had been filed by the Temple Police about any heretical utterances I had made. He quickly got to the point.

"James," he said, "I've had a call from them" — we both knew that that meant Rome — and I again wondered if I had transgressed. "Fear not," he said, "it's all good. Paul 7th needs your help in setting up a new Commission on Spirituality in the Liturgy."

To say I was shocked would be an understatement.

"This," William I said, "is your doing, in my mid fifties I'm too young for Rome."

"I was approached," he said, "and consulted by the personal secretary to His Holiness so its direct from the very top."

What could I say?

He went on, "especially as I realised that you were an ideal choice and on my last ad limina I sensed that 'The winds of change' were blowing around St. Peters. So James, he said, you'll go?" The rest is in my book. Autographed copies will be available at the St. Aldates gate later.

As a humble priest my one visit to Rome some ten years before was as an interested tourist. So returning to live and work there was a shock to the system. With seminary Latin and a reasonable smattering of Italian I started to cope. First up was a one-on-one meeting with Paul 7th. lasting over an hour when I Learned things which must await the 50 years opening of the archives. Suffice it to say it was an eye-opener. There are some here, he said, who think they are God, others think I am God and they are all wrong. Many have passed their use-by date but what do I do with them? Your first task is to rewrite the Mass in good modern English and you will have my full support. I say this because you will encounter stiff resistance from those who didn't learn last time. You will recall the chaos we had when my predecessor in 2010/11 tried to impose archaic English on the faithful. So go to it and keep me posted.

And I started, first to resurrect ICEL (The Internation Commission for English in the Liturgy) with new English scholarship and some of the original members who had been eased out by anti-ICEL elements in the Curia. As I got going I was conscious of scrutiny by the Inquisition and the old Latin brigade. Happy with my progress after 18 months Paul 7th honoured me with the red hat and I became James Cardinal Robertson. Some who had been there "for ever" were not happy with my promotion but who was I to object?

A well known Australian politician once said "Life was not meant to be Easy" and this hit us all in Rome when Paul 7th died suddenly after only seven years in office. So it was on for one and all, who would succeed? The speculation started even before the funeral. Little groups formed. Old, young, Latins, English. American, African and others. They gathered in corners and over lattes, speculating, gossiping and yes, scheming. If anyone thought that political parties knew how to lobby (when not lobbying!!) they should come to a Rome pre-consistory.

My adversaries had a little gloat, "now we'll see about your new English when we elect the right man!" We will soon be back to business as usual but don't worry, you will probably get a nice posting to the Bahamas, its fun there. I was concerned as I dit not want to see a repeat of the 2010 liturgy shambles. and yes I prayed a little harder for a good Pontiff.

Unlike in politics, most did not want the job...

While open lobbying was forbidden  in the church, nothing today stops the media and they had field days every day. Would we go back to an Italian or, as more recently, a European? Was it time for another English pope only the second since Adrian 6 in 1522-3? Maybe an Obama, time for a black Pope or, horror of horrors, an American Pontiff? Rumours abounded, who would get the nod but no clear favourite emerged. As the election day got near a black African, Archbishop Ludono was put in charge of the Conclave and voting began. Unlike the civil political scene I do believe that very few of the 80 assembled Cardinals wanted the job. As the youngest present I looked forward to enjoying my first conclave.

After two weeks with four or five ballots daily no favourite emerged and Archbishop Ludono started talking of a lock-up with bread and water. That got things happening and so after more prayer, strong support for two cardinals appeared. However they were neck-and-neck with neither near the 2/3+1 majority required. Extra time for consultation was granted and after the two main groups finished conferring a note of hope was sensed. After the next ballot no numbers were announced but to my horror I saw my erstwhile friend William of Westminster and the black Archbishop approach in my direction. "It's you," they said ...

"No I said can't be. It's a mistake ... I'm too young!"

"Yes," they repeated, "will you serve?"

"Yes, Serviam," I said, "and God help me."

The cry went out "Habemus Papam" and I shed a tear as all, even my adversaries, cheered.

It was relief all round except for me. You'll be fine said Westminster, Yes I replied and it's all your fault but as the second English Pope I was happy to have his blessing and support.

The pomp and ceremonials I had to endure and they are now all history. Having accepted the job I was anxious to get to work and I started a little black book with "Things to to". Early entries included the following: the appointment of bishops, women in the church, good vernacular liturgies, lay involvement in leadership and many others. And I decided to start with bishops because like many in the Church I was intrigued by the mysterious process by which new bishops emerged. I recalled my early involvement in clergy golf days (no bishops allowed) when after 18 holes, a good lunch and a few drinks priests opened up, terms like "Bishops who would not say boo to a goose!" or "Rome wouldn't have a clue what goes on in parishes". The trend to "safe" episcopal appointments became obvious in the reign of JPII and it continued under B16. Paul 7 despite some resistance started querying some proposals, even rejected some to the chagrin of some local Cardinals and senior Archbishops who thought they had divine rights. More on this later.

Early on I found a certain loneliness in the job so I decided to get outside help. As the Pope can't just hop on a plane and go to London I asked William of Westminster (now forgiven) to invite Geoffrey of Canterbury to come with him to Rome for a heart-to-heart in the manner advocated by the great John Henry Newman. Geoffrey was delighted to come to what he described as his second Head Office to greet the second English Pope. As three old Oxford men we had a great time reminiscing before getting down to business. Paul 7 in his short reign had broken down some barriers. Intercommunion was encouraged when other Christians joined us at the Eucharist and Catholics were encouraged to attend from time to time and participate fully in non-Catholic Sunday Services, subject, of course, to maintaining financial support for their own parishes. For bishops he had abolished the mitre, the crozier and the great cloak (Cappa Magna) as symbols of medieval triumphalism.

Geoffrey Canterbury was frank about Anglican problems, similar to ours. Smaller congregations, a lack of interest in matters spiritual and less financial support. Vocations, with no celibacy requirements, were better than ours but marital separation was becoming a problem. After some thirty years women had settled in as priests though many Anglicans, including women still preferred a male minister. At that stage I thought , let's concentrate on the episcopate. So we got down to bishops. My own wish to open up the closed process was well known and I was looking for some Anglican guidance as to a democratic way. Canterbury was very honest when he said, don't go down our process for Archbishops where we need separate majority support from the bishops present, the clergy present and the group of lay people involved. When we don't achieve this first time round the whole process has to start again and once rejected, good men, carefully selected, rarely nominate a second time. It's now a matter of record that in Catholic dioceses regional bishops however recommended by the authorities cannot be elected without the support of the registered Catholic voters in the particular region. The "Club" of senior clerics who once ruled the roost are still not happy with this but as I often reminded them I was elected to serve the whole church.

Regularly, through my time as Pope, I was confronted with comments like, "your Holiness, your predecessors did it this way ... or do you want to set aside centuries of 'Tradition'?"

Yes I would respond, it's Vatican II or maybe it's time for Vatican III. They had no response to this possibility.

A "Commission on Women in the Church"

Now for what I always saw as the big problem in my time: the role of women in the church. Unfinished business ... but I am happy to be judged on my progress. Having settled the bishop problem I again went out on a limb and called a meeting of the groups pressing for the ordination of women. They came to Rome, surprised but I was quick to advise them against expecting quick solutions or indeed miracles. I started with three questions to them pleading for honest answers:

• If we opened the Seminaries tomorrow to women would you accept 7 years of theology. philosophy and Canon Law?
• Would you accept celibacy?
• How would you feel about a solitary life in a presbytery in charge of a parish?

This gave rise to serious consideration and having broken the ice we were able to get down to serious business. As we, by consent, excluded the media, frank discussion was possible and a recurring theme emerged. Why should women accept a regime rejected by men? Let's bring real ministry into the third millennium. So I played my trump card: let's be patient and start again. Thus was born the "Commission on Women in the Church" with sharp teeth end a majority of women members. At our first formal meeting (in private) I said, they out there, indicating the various Vatican Offices, are dead against you in this end against me too, so I favour an indirect approach. So as a start I propose to open the Diaconate to women and abolish celibacy for this Order for both sexes. Between these four walls I can see this leading to greater things but not just yet.

You good people here in Oxford will recall the ninties with the revival of interest by the "Magisterium" in the Diaconate. After a thousand years in Limbo it was seen as a part solution to the shortage of priests. True, as always to Tradition, the revised role was male only, celibate, unless already married and directly under the oversight of the local bishop (His eyes and ears?). Several years training mainly part-time with great emphasis on Theology and Canon Law. The process varied in different areas.

When the proposed duties were revealed some said, "wait on! These roles have already been performed for some time by Pastoral Associates, the majority of whom are women, so why deacons?"

A good question I thought at the time. So I had a brilliant thought, why not combine the roles and allow Pastoral Associates access to the Diaconate. A much less complicated process and now Viri Probati could be joined by Feminae Probatae prepared to make a commitment to serve in his or her parish. The Rome model allowed local bishops to exclude deacons from working in their own parish. This represented the fear still in Rome of allowing the People of God to participate actively in parish life. I quickly abolished this rule as I saw it as one to be "more honoured in the breech". Anyhow as you all know deacons male end female (robed or not, by choice) are now a major element in parish life.

No, I did not get to the ultimate — the ordination of Women but my successor has that in his basket. By simplifying the priestly formation process and combining it with the diaconate we could well see a new form of ministry open to men end women. Meanwhile the right of deacons (women and men) to preside at the Eucharist in the absence of a priest has taken much of the heat out of the move to the full ordination of women.

So how do I, a retired Pope here reminiscing in this hallowed hall, look back on it all?

Well it started in 2009 in a far flung outpost in what became known as the "Father Bob Affair". As he approached 75 he failed to offer his resignation to his bishop. This did not go un-noticed and he had a visit indicating that his offer to resign would be accepted and the keys of the Kingdom (Parish) should be handed in in 30 days. Bob, well-known for his independence and his great work for the poor over many decades, wished to continue, so he dug his heels in and politely refused. With great local media support he got a reprieve. I mention this as it focussed attention on the retirement age for clergy.

I was aware that at parish level around the world priests at 75 were often encouraged — even pressured — by the bishop to "do another year Father" and ongoing. So we made a rule that at 75 priests could insist on retirement and get good care in old age. They could also, by personal choice, continue to serve and many did so.

A different kettle of fish in the Vatican...

It was a different kettle of fish in the Vatican where many over 75 continued in Office expecting the status and comforts to continue till death "made them part" despite being well past their use-by dates.

Paul 7 started with gentle persuasion asking the oldies to make way for the younger men we desperately needed in Rome. Real progress started as some of the bishops elected by Vox Populi (the voice of the people) joined our ranks. It's now compulsory for all Vatican clergy to retire at 75 and at the next Conclave Cardinals over 75 will not be attending.

So where did that leave me?

Well, talking here tonight as I could not make a rule for others and not me. Having myself by now passed the magic age, I offered my resignation to myself and accepted it. So in Rome we now have what sportsmen around the world would describe as a new ball game. Will I return to England? Maybe from time to time.

In my 20 plus years in Rome I fell in love with Italy and the Italians. I have a small villa about two hours by car south of Rome where subject to his authority, the old PP allows me to help with the Sunday Masses in his three small churches. My successor, Paul 8, often puts on civvies and dark glasses and drives down for a yarn, spag bol and a glass of the local vino. We chat about "Church" but he does not have to tell me not to interfere. I know my place now and I did my best. God will be my judge in His time. Good Night to you all ... and don't forget my book!!

Given at Oxford, the Feast of All Saints 2040.
John XXIV (Retired).

George Ripon October 2009

Image Credits:
The headline image has been sourced from : www.educatednation.com.

©2009 George Ripon

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