Strange bedfellows at the Papal Funeral
Look at this picture from the BBC. In the front is Israeli president Moshe Katsav. A few seats to his left stands Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, and behind him is Syrian President Bashar al-Asad. Before and during the funeral, Katsav shook hands with al-Asad and exchanged pleasantries with Khatami. As the article reminds us, Syria and Israel are both at a state of war, and Iran does not recognize the state of Israel.
Of course, the President of Israel is a largely ceremonial position- Katsav has very little power or influence. Khatami should have power, but the hard-liners, with their control over the army, police and judiciary have rendered him politically impotent. And al-Asad is a fool and a frontman for the power class in Syria (though he still wields more control than the other two put together). But there is still something special about that moment, something almost beautiful.
It is a testament to the greatness of this Pope. Great does not always mean good- and readers of this page know I remain strongly critical of John Paul the II, but there is little doubt that he almost always meant well, even when his programs bring harm and misery (like the stubborn and dogmatic opposition to birth control). And he was most sincere about bringing people together, about dialouge between faiths, about the brotherhood of man, as he saw it. War to him was always deeply troubling. It was clear that the virulent hatred and violence of the Middle East was something that pained his heart.
Probably little to nothing will come of these warm handshakes, of the smiles. They were what was called for. But, still! That these men could come together, could put aside their differences, refusing to let politics and war and hatred and enmity and anger get in the way of honoring this man is perhaps his greatest tribute. The millions in Rome and the millions of Catholics who wept at home and the millions of other confessions that were saddened by his passing shows his touch and his genuine ecumenical spirit. That shows plenty about this man, and would probably be the most touching to him were he around to see it. It shows his honest humility and his deep love for the world, not just for those in the sway of the Vatican. His greatness, what he will be most missed for, though, is his unique ability to bring people together, even if it left them bewildered. The force of his personality, even when he left the world behind, was enough to do so. The picture of enemies standing in solemn respect, joint in their mourning, is as much a tribute and remembrance of the man as the millions of candles justly lit around this troubled planet.
Of course, the President of Israel is a largely ceremonial position- Katsav has very little power or influence. Khatami should have power, but the hard-liners, with their control over the army, police and judiciary have rendered him politically impotent. And al-Asad is a fool and a frontman for the power class in Syria (though he still wields more control than the other two put together). But there is still something special about that moment, something almost beautiful.
It is a testament to the greatness of this Pope. Great does not always mean good- and readers of this page know I remain strongly critical of John Paul the II, but there is little doubt that he almost always meant well, even when his programs bring harm and misery (like the stubborn and dogmatic opposition to birth control). And he was most sincere about bringing people together, about dialouge between faiths, about the brotherhood of man, as he saw it. War to him was always deeply troubling. It was clear that the virulent hatred and violence of the Middle East was something that pained his heart.
Probably little to nothing will come of these warm handshakes, of the smiles. They were what was called for. But, still! That these men could come together, could put aside their differences, refusing to let politics and war and hatred and enmity and anger get in the way of honoring this man is perhaps his greatest tribute. The millions in Rome and the millions of Catholics who wept at home and the millions of other confessions that were saddened by his passing shows his touch and his genuine ecumenical spirit. That shows plenty about this man, and would probably be the most touching to him were he around to see it. It shows his honest humility and his deep love for the world, not just for those in the sway of the Vatican. His greatness, what he will be most missed for, though, is his unique ability to bring people together, even if it left them bewildered. The force of his personality, even when he left the world behind, was enough to do so. The picture of enemies standing in solemn respect, joint in their mourning, is as much a tribute and remembrance of the man as the millions of candles justly lit around this troubled planet.
posted by cairobrian | 2:43 PM
3 Comments:
I don't think he is just a puppet or anything like that- far from it- but I don't think he wields anywhere near the same amount of untrammled power that his old man had. The clue, for me, comes from his startling transformation from reformer to recidivist. I don't think that was due to divine revelation. I think his power has increased since he made that personal change- he is no longer a risk to those with their hands in the honey pot- but I think the power structure still regards him with a wary eye. By powerful here, I don't mean he isn't listened to. I just mean he doesn't have a lot of wiggle room, and he wields his power in a very narrow space. I suppose I could have made that more clear.
One of the reasons I didn't make it more clear is because I was writing about the pope. But it always has to be Middle East discussions with you, doesn't it? Speaking of the Pope, Christopher Hitchens has a nice piece on him on Slate.com today. I think he is a little uncharitable about Communism (the Pope did help inspire Solidarity) but otherwise hit the nail on the head. Check it out.
Sorry if I may have minor disagreements with Lee Smith. Remind me to send him a card or something and apologize.
Just read the Lee Smith piece in the Weekly Standard, and left it feeling slightly confused (I'll admit to it- I'm man enough). Who exactly is the "old guard" if not Bashar's family? He said (very well, in fact) that Syria was a family business. Bashar is part of that, as the old man was. I wasn't under the impression that there was a guard, or a significant one, outside the Alawite clan. It seems Smith is knocking down non-existent bogeymen to prove smarter than the media. I think he is smarter than most of the media, and understands the depth of nuance of the region without falling in with the myths, but here I think he is arguing against a point few are making. Of course he has the same power structure as his father- that's exactly the point! He can't manuver outside of these constrictions.
Apologies to EYG for writing about another writer. I'm just trying to get Lee Smith to notice me. Lee? Leeeee?
It is unbelievbale what John Paul II has done as far as reaching out beyond the Catholic world. While remaining conservative, he certainly did a great deal to reform the papal image. I've also seen a great deal of my family's "Uncle Teddy," Father McCarrick the Cardinal in DC, on TV lately. As one who met the Pope on various occasions, I trust his word when he expresses what a remarkable man JP II really was. As a Catholic and as a human being I have only respect for the way in which he lived.
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