Putting the 'us' in 'habemus'

Do we (?) have a pope?

Dear Trinity, Habemus Papam. “We have a pope.” Can ‘we’ say that ‘we’ have a pope, that is, even those of us Christians who are not in full communion with the Bishop of Rome? As usual, it is complicated. 

Our reformation predecessors held a very strong critique of the popes of their era, but they were not alone. It was commonly held among not only the protestants, but also among many of the Catholic faithful that various kinds of reform were needed–even desperately needed. As with prophetic-reform types, some carry a hammer and some carry a scalpel. Luther, of course, carried a hammer. Hammers can be destructive, but they are usually used for building or rebuilding. One of the strong clarifying statements, and for some, confessing statements of that era was Luther’s last will and testament–the Smalcald Articles. Therein he pens hammer-worded statements about the pope, to which his more irenic partner, Philip Melanchthon adds his own scalpel-words. As a postscript, a P.S., to Luther’s assertive writing, Melanchthon adds, “If the pope would permit the Gospel, and admit that his authority is of a human and not a divine source, we would again come under him.”¹ Melanchthon held the unity of the Christian church on earth as a high priority, though not as high as the priority of the clear freedom and proclamation of the Gospel! Nothing is more important than the Gospel. It might not surprise you that my heart beats with Melanchthon’s PS. I long for the unity of the whole church, and gladly look to Catholic Pope and Baptist Preacher to bear clear witness to the unity we share and also the word of Christ we proclaim. 

Photo by Xavier Coiffic on Unsplash

Maybe you could join me in prayer for Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV:
Father in heaven, for your Son’s sake, fill the new Pope with your Holy Spirit.

That his own baptismal belovedness would be reflected in his message;

That his Augustinian profession would highlight the sole energy for our salvation–Jesus Christ our Lord, and would clearly point a restless world and our restless hearts to the rest we find in Jesus;

That his missionary charism would inspire a new evangelization here, and in all the nations of the world;

That his commitment to the social and moral teaching of the church would cultivate a comprehensive commitment to life in a culture of death, a solidarity with the poor and powerless in a culture that prefers power and performance, and a bold devotion to peace among all nations.May you fill your whole and holy church with your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Jesus’ peace, Nathan

1. I, Philip Melanchthon, also regard [approve] the above articles as right and Christian. But regarding the Pope I hold that, if he would allow the Gospel, his superiority over the bishops which he has otherwise, is conceded to him by human right also by us, for the sake of peace and general unity of those Christians who are also under him, and may be under him hereafter. https://thebookofconcord.org/smalcald-articles/