Passing on the Keys of Peter

- A Reflection by Trustee Anthony Hoffman

We find ourselves in a unique situation. The trumpet blast announcing the arrival of Easter was still ringing in our ears when the news of the passing of Pope Francis fell across the church. On literally the second day, of what the church celebrates with much pomp, rejoicing and feasting for fifty whole days screeched to an about-face as it announced the customary nine-day period of mourning for the Holy Father.

As a Catholic school division, we are joining the entire church and the world at large to both mourn the passing of the Holy Father, and also to reflect on his ministry and legacy during his time in the chair of Peter.

At this time, as I’m sure you’ve seen, articles and commentary abound as to what exactly is the papacy, and what happens next?

I remember during a trip to Rome almost fifteen years ago, something clicked for me. I was in St. Peter’s Basilica exploring some of the many side altars and transepts, when I came across this 25-30 foot high wall of marble. On the wall, closest to my head, chiseled into the marble was the name of Pope Benedict XVI who was pope at the time. Above his name was that of St. John Paul II. Up and up the names climbed, one over the other, until at the very top of the wall, was the name of Peter.

That Peter.  Fisherman Peter.  Best friend of Christ Peter.

I saw for the first time in a visual way, this unbroken chain of successors from the apostles themselves. I saw that this is what a Pope is. Not so much a chief administrator of an organization, or a CEO of a company. Not one who produces or changes what the Church is or teaches, but—forgive my positional plug—acts as a Trustee. Someone en-trusted with something that isn’t his, but that he has been given a certain authority over in order to protect, promote and preserve it, and to return it to its owner after a period. 

A Pope acts so that the truths of the Gospel, the means of salvation and the sacraments instituted by Christ are guarded, protected, but also shared by the community of Christ’s disciples. This is what the Church means when it states that it enjoys ‘Apostolic Succession.’  This unbroken chain going all the way back to the 12 Apostles and which St. Paul spoke of in the epistle this past Holy Thursday, “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you.” (1 Corinthians 11:23)

One of my favourite titles of the Papal office is the ‘Servant of the Servants.’  As we recently celebrated on Holy Thursday, when Christ established the priesthood, he did so by washing the feet of the apostles who served him. The image of a King stooping down to perform an action that was routinely performed by slaves, inverting our notion of authority and power by lifting up humility, gentleness, and service.

This hierarchy of priestly service was given an administrative structure and decision making authority when Christ handed the ‘keys of the kingdom’ to Peter in the Gospel of Matthew. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19)

I’ve always liked Bishop Barron’s analogy of this authority comparing it to that of a baseball umpire. It’s not an authority over the game of baseball itself, but one that holds authority to declare a play or player ‘safe’ or ‘out’ so that the game may continue. Up and down the centuries, Popes have declared what practices, and even ideas are in conformity with the messages of Christ he has been entrusted with, and which ones are in conflict with the work of mercy and salvation.

So, what happens when the Chair of Peter is vacant (Sede Vacante) as it is after the passing of a pope?  These 'keys' are in possession of the eternal church and so a Conclave is called.

In Latin, ‘Con’ means ‘with,’ and ‘Clavis’ translates as ‘keys,’ and so the Cardinals gather, literally “with the keys” to pray, and elect the next successor of Peter.

Right now, the Church is under the administrative direction of the Camerlengo (chamberlain of the Holy Roman Church). This means that all governance for the church is paused, except routine matters handled by the Camerlengo. No major decisions, appointments etcetera can be made until a new pope is elected.

As you are reading this, all of the Cardinals of the church are making their way to Rome for the Conclave which must start between 15-20 days after the passing of the Pope. Only Cardinals under the age of 80 can vote, and the conclave is held in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy. These clergy are not connected to the outside world during this time, distancing themselves from extramural worries, distractions, opinions and influences. 

This mirrors Christ who spent the night in prayer in an isolated place before selecting his twelve apostles. The Cardinals pray, and intentionally seek out an interior silence to hear that ‘still, small voice’ of the Holy Spirit.

There are 137 Cardinals eligible to vote this year. To be successful, a candidate must be voted by a 2/3 majority plus one. So that means 91.3 votes are required to pass.

If a majority is not reached after a secret ballot, black smoke rises from the chimney at the Vatican, letting the faithful know that the Cardinals return to prayer and will start the process again.

After a successful vote, the elected Cardinal is asked if he accepts the election to Supreme Pontiff and chooses a papal name.

White smoke comes from the chimney at the Vatican and the basilica declares “we have a Pope!”  Upon which the new Pope elect appears to give his first Ubi et Orbi blessing.

So, what are the Catholics to do in the meantime? We can feel disconnected from the rather secret and distant proceedings happening in the Sistine Chapel.

One of the beautiful things about our union with other believers, is that as baptized Catholics, we are all make up one spiritual body. 

In the physical order, my efforts cannot be transmitted to another body, meaning I cannot delegate, or have someone else perform push-ups or go for a run, in order for me to get stronger (unfortunately). But, in the spiritual order, as part of the one spiritual body in Christ, all of my spiritual exercises strengthen and affect the entire body. 

Therefore, the Church has always asked Catholics around the world to take up the spiritual endeavours in communion with the Cardinals in Rome, so that the strength and wisdom of the Holy Spirit will be upon their minds and in their decisions.

They are undertaking a monumental spiritual task, and we join in praying that the Cardinals will 'see as God sees.’  In the book of first Samuel, when the prophet Samuel is asked by God to anoint a new King for Israel, he heads to the house of Jesse, who puts before him seven of his strapping young sons. Jesse saw, as we are all tempted to do, primarily the worldly qualities of each son.  Perhaps one was an excellent communicator. Another was a warrior worth following into battle.  Another, an administrative guru. Surely, all qualities of successful Kings. But Samuel says that none of them were the one chosen by God. Instead, David, the youngest boy, not even considered by his father as an option is anointed. “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

David was young, but he loved his sheep, protected them with his daring efforts, and had a heart that burned with love for God.  As king, when David wasn’t on the battlefield or growing a thriving nation, he was writing fervent love songs—the Psalms—for God.  Songs that were later sung by Christ himself.  David was described as a man “after God’s own heart.”(1 Samuel 13:14)

And so, as the conclave approaches, we the faithful can strengthen the Body of Christ with our prayers, our fasting, attending the Sacraments and invoking the Holy Spirit to guide the proceedings in Rome.

We unite our prayers with the whole Church:

“Kyrie Eleison!  Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Good Shepherd!

With Your almighty hand You guide Your pilgrim Church through the storms of each age!

Conduct thy servant Pope Francis into your loving presence, eternal rest grant unto him and may your perpetual light shine upon him.

Adorn Your Holy See with a Pope ‘after thy own heart,’ who neither fears nor compromises with the spirit of the age, but will preserve, strengthen, and defend the Catholic Faith.

O Lord, give to us a Pope inflamed with the zeal of the Apostles who declare boldly the salvation found in your Son Jesus Christ!  We pray that you give him as you gave Solomon, “an understanding mind to govern your people, that (he) may discern” that which will unite, strengthen and grow the faith of your followers. (1 Kings 3:9)

May the Holy See—which is home of all who promote the Catholic and Apostolic faith—always shine as the cathedra of truth for the whole world.

Hear us O Lord, and through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church, and St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, grant us a holy shepherd, a servant of servants, that the love of Your Son our Lord may be made known throughout the whole world! 

Amen”

-Prayer for the Conclave by Bishop Athanasius Schneider (edited)