In the mid-1960s, a television sitcom entiltled “It’s All About Time” entertained American audiences. The story line consisted of two astronauts, traveling faster than light, who go back in time to prehistoric Earth. Unable to return, they make friends with the "natives."
Ironically, for the sitcom’s creator, Sherwood Schwartz, and the lead actors, Frank Aletter, Jack Mullaney and Imogene Coca, the sitcom only survived for two seasons from 1966 to 1967, a short time indeed!
I know this is a strange way to introduce a post. But, as I have been thinking about Pope Francis and his legacy, this crazy sitcom and its title have often come to mind.
It is all about time, isn’t it?
Whether or not Pope Francis’ Pontificate has any lasting impact upon the Papacy, the Curia, moral and sacramental theology, the hierarchy and the laity alike really depends upon how long the Lord gives the Holy Father the spiritual and physical stamina to shepherd His Church.
If the various Catholic pundits and the “talking heads” which appear on EWTN and elsewhere in the media are correct, an identifiable and very vocal conservative wing within the hierarchy has remained reluctant to embrace the various pastoral initiatives which Francis has either inspired or encouraged.
Whether these initiatives will become part of the institutional structure of the Church in the future may very well depend upon the length of this Papacy and the opportunity which Francis will have to replace these conservative diehards with liberal minded Prelates.
If not, then the Church will be find itself in troubled waters indeed.
For the question will then be whether Catholics who have been so encouraged by the openness with which Francis speaks of God’s mercy and forgiveness will accept an attempt by conservative voices to return to a Church of judgment and condemnation.
A dear friend of mine puts the question this way: can the Church put the toothpaste back into the tube after Pope Francis?
Again, it’s all about time, I think.
But there are some things which time will quickly determine for any future Papacy.
For example, the next Pope will have less than one day to define his Papacy. What do I mean?
If the next Pope doesn’t carry his own suitcase, pay his own hotel bill the morning following the Conclave, doesn’t live in the simple apartment at Santa Marta, doesn’t ride around in Fiat rather than a Mercedes, then that Pope’s future acceptance by the ordinary Catholics and non-Catholics will be seriously and negatively impacted.
That’s for sure and any future Pontiff should be well aware of this simple but profound fact. Any future Papacy must imitate the simplicity of Francis or that Pontificate is DOA (dead on arrival).
It’s all about time, and the appearance and trappings of the Papacy have been changed for all time.
And whether or not Amoris Laetitia, or Laudato Si, or any other Apostolic Exhortation or Papal Encyclical of Francis continues to provide guidance and inspiration to future generations of Catholics will depend upon the amount of time Francis has to appoint Bishops who are receptive to his message of discernment, accompaniment and mercy.
It’s all about time!
The Holy Father has said on more than one occasion that he envisions his Papacy as a short one, suggesting in one address to a group of elderly Italian female soldalists that he is a “a little old, and a little sick” for his Pontificate to be a long one. Early on, during an impromptu news conference conducted on a return flight from one of his missionary visits, he suggested that he might only be Pope for “five years or so”.
It’s all about time!
Whether or not Francis appreciates this fact and whether or not his actions and decisions are marked by a sense of urgency is anyone’s guess. Whether the Holy Father is simply content to do what he can while he can and leave the future of the Church to the Holy Spirit Who will motivate and inspire his successor is again anyone’s guess.
Yet, I sense the Holy Father is anxious to at least urge the leadership of the Church to consider alternatives and to be bold in being generous in the dispensation of God’s merciful Grace. Whether or not this will have a significant and permanent effect remains to be seen.
For in the end, it’s all about time!
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