Last night, I sang with the Oriel Singers in a performance of Mozart's Requiem. The concert was well attended, despite the weather, and most people agreed that we have raised ourselves to a new level as a choir. It was a humbling experience. This was Mozart's last work, and was incomplete when he died. Although it had been commissioned, it is likely that he was aware he was writing it for his own death. The contrast throughout between the awesomeness of God's sovereign power and humanity's need for forgiveness and restoration inevitably causes one to reflect on one's own mortality and 'the last things'. And especially at this time of year, to be profoundly thankful for 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world' (Agnus Dei).
Last week saw the inaugural mass of Pope Francis in Rome and the installation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. These events were only 3 days apart, and it does seem something of a God-incidence that these two great, historic churches begin a new chapter at the same time, just before Holy Week and Easter. Past and present pope met each other yesterday, apparently; but what would happen if pope and archbishop were to meet? Such an encounter would inevitably attract the attention of the world's media, but in private might the conversation go something like this?
Pope Francis: Archbishop, I'm so pleased to meet you. May God richly bless you in your leadership of our brothers and sisters in Christ of the Anglican Communion. It seems to be ordained that we should begin our new ministries at the same time.
Archbishop Justin: Thank you for your greeting, Holy Father. May you also be blessed as head of the Roman Catholic Church. I'm sure there is much we may share together under God. We have both entered a new world, which neither of us would have expected 30 years ago: I from the oil industry to Archbishop, and you from Argentina to Rome. I tremble, as I'm sure you do, at all that may be expected of us.
PF: As you know, I requested the prayers of the faithful as my election was announced and I depend daily upon the grace of God as servant of the servants of God.
AJ: And I spoke at Canterbury of the need for courage as we step out with Christ into the stormy waters of today's world.
PF: We have one thing in common anyway: we preside over a church which herself has many problems and divisions. But I have a sense that the worst thing we could do would be to turn inwards upon ourselves, and try to sort them all out. Some problems just won't be fixable, though we have some that must be addressed.
AJ: I agree. For all our difficulties, our primary concern must be to engage in God's mission to the world, to face outwards rather than in.
PF: I've been thinking, how would it be if from time to time you and I were to speak together to God's world, of God's passion for peace and justice, God's love for humankind? You know the kind of thing: joint statements, united action, maybe even sharing a pilgrimage together. Wouldn't that be quite something - the Pope and the Archbishop speaking with one voice, acting as one? We wouldn't have to agree on everything before that could happen, would we?
AJ: I am amazed and humbled that you could suggest such a thing. Thank you. Actually, there is a kind of precedent in a local rather than global sense. Nearly 40 years ago, in Liverpool, England, there was another God-incidence of Anglican and Roman Catholic leaders taking office at the same time. Our man was Bishop David Sheppard, and yours Archbishop Derek Worlock. They became firm friends; they shared together their faith in the crucified and risen Christ; they acknowledged their theological differences but in crises - local and national - they often acted together in Christ's name, to great effect and for the common good.
PF: This is a story I must learn more about. And I don't suppose either Church was free of controversy then either.
AJ: No, although I think it would be fair to say that, with the passage of time, our reputations publicly have become rather more tarnished. There is a lot of ground to make up, but I still agree with you that becoming self-obsessed will not fulfil the missio dei, the mission of God.
PF: Let us talk some more of these things. Would you care to share a bottle of wine with me? - Chateau du Pape Neuf of course!
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