THE GREATEST MAGICIANS have something to learn from Mr. Mistoffelees’ Conjuring Turn – PRESTO! And so, the world has once again seen balance as the Chair of St. Peter is filled anew, with its 267th occupant entrusted to shepherd Christ’s flock. Yet, in just mere minutes of this momentous occasion, bruised expectations stir restlessly, lingering in the shadows of what should be a time of joy.
I always thought of death as something inherently poetic when viewed as life’s final, resounding symphony. And in the passing of Pope Francis, I’d like to imagine a departure as beautifully cinematic as the closing crescendo of an orchestra—how the People’s Pope would’ve whispered his final prayer with the tender urgency of a soul preparing for home; how he would’ve summoned the last of his strength to clutch the Holy Cross close to his heart; and how, in his final moments, he would’ve bowed gently to the Church before rising towards Home with a heart full of service and love.
I am well aware that some of my columns trace a familiar thread, chronicling the whereabouts of death and the indelible mark he leaves behind. We’ve once explored the haunting beauty that grief so often brings. Then, we moved forward to discuss the mobilizations brought upon by the passing of someone significant. Most often than not, these movements, while sparked by loss, can be widely misdirected that would stray into actions that stand in quiet defiance of truths far greater than what the eye can see.
“…we ought to embrace a new perspective: to see that the words ‘better than I’ can also mean trusting in a purpose beyond ourselves, a decision carefully shaped for the good of all.”
I read countless reports, saw social media posts, and ultimately became familiar with the names whispered across the world, those seen as contenders to inherit the mantle of St. Peter. Among them stood Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church and now the new titular bishop of the Suburbicarian Diocese of Albano in Rome. His name stirred a resounding hope as Filipinos, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, watched with hearts brimming with pride over the possibility of the first Asian, and indeed Filipino, pope. Yet, to the quiet sorrow of the predominantly Filipino faithful, hopes were dashed as the first American pope was divinely chosen over the one who might’ve been the first Asian to wear the Fisherman’s ring—a grief, though perhaps misplaced.
Competitiveness, ambition, and national pride are among the striking features characterizing the Filipino community, evident in sports, pageantry, business, politics, and academia to name a few. Though rooted in earnest aspiration, oftentimes, such fervor stands to surpass reason, casting undue weight upon those who find themselves in the spotlight. In light of Cardinal Tagle’s admission that the surge of global attention felt “unsettling,” a call for temperance, discernment, and respect should once again be heeded, particularly in drawing boundaries between, for example, the sacred nature of a conclave and the passion reserved for (secular) elections.
It should come at no expense that humans, though endowed with wisdom and reason, must come to acknowledge the existence of forces far beyond the grasp of human understanding. Rather than yielding to the clamor of supposed competition, straining the words ‘better than I’ with bonds and division, we ought to embrace a new perspective: to see that the words ‘better than I’ can also mean trusting in a purpose beyond ourselves, a decision carefully shaped for the good of all.
Oh! Well, I never! Was there ever a cat so clever as magical Mr. Mistoffelees?
Email me at thebedan_editorinchief@sanbeda.edu.ph